Hyderabad: Residents of Banjara Hills were surprised after a troop of grey langurs was seen roaming along the streets and main roads. While grey langurs are commonly found in many forested, green and rural parts of Telangana, sightings in the middle of Hyderabad’s busy urban areas are uncommon.
Grey langurs, also known as Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus species), are naturally found in dry deciduous forests, scrublands and rocky hill regions across India. They mostly feed on leaves, fruits, flowers and seeds, and usually live in groups led by a dominant male.
Although langurs are present in and around Hyderabad, they are generally seen within green spaces such as forest patches, parks and the city’s outskirts rather than on busy roads. Langurs have previously been spotted at KBR Park in Jubilee Hills and on the outskirts of Hyderabad near Ananthagiri Hills, Ameenpur, Gundlapochampally et cetera, but rarely in urban areas.
Langurs have also been used to chase away the common rhesus monkeys which raid homes in several parts of the city.
Experts believe urban sightings may occur when langurs move between fragmented green patches in search of food or water, or when their natural habitats become disturbed. As Hyderabad continues to expand, wildlife movement into residential neighbourhoods has become more frequent, particularly around areas close to forest blocks and rocky landscapes.
Dr Sunil S. Hiremath, Telangana director of zoo parks said “Langurs need greenery and ecology. We need to check with the concerned teams to analyse and understand why they’re in the urban areas.”
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