Primate Planet: Hanuman Langurs

From the forests and rural plains of India to the city streets in Haryana, the Hanuman langur is one of the common primates spotted throughout India. Although they may resemble little monkeys, the langur gets its name from the Sanskrit langulin, “having a long tail.” They are a species of Old World monkey that are capable of surviving under the most extreme environments and diets. From barren deserts to freezing mountains, the Hanuman’s stomach allows it to eat nearly anything, most of their diet consisting of leaves throughout various seasons. 

It is easy to tell apart from other species of small monkeys and langurs, having a distinguishable dark black face and palms, locals describe as “charred,” that are not hidden under its light grey to tan colored fur. Its striking appearance however, goes spiritually deeper than the black and white contrast of the Hanuman langurs balanced pattern- they are named after a Hindu god. Their “charred” black faces and hands are fabled to be the proof of their descendancy of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, worshipped as the god of health. Their long tails which span nearly twice the length of their small bodies are also tied to a legend of the god Hanuman, who, in the legend, had used his long tail to set fire to an island in an act of bravery to save his King's abducted Queen from captors. 

The locals who once long ago grew accustomed to feeding these little langurs at shrines and temples- their offerings for gods became snacks very quickly- are not all so pleased with the hanumans in some more rural areas in India, where the monkeys are prone to stealing and raiding crops. This does become a pest problem for people who are surviving off of scarce provisions especially during winter months in regions of higher elevation in India. The water shortages affecting crops of wheat and grains in the city of Haryana are also a factor in the farmers' growing disparagement of hungry langurs. Luckily the main religion in Haryana being Hinduism may be what keeps them well fed and respected by most Hindus still.