Langur Monkeys Grooming and Family Life

Grooming Langur Monkeys -  (Semnopithecus entellus)

One of the most charismatic arboreal primates in wild India. Hanuman Langur is also known as  Gray langur an old-world monkey it is most common as well. It is large when compared to the rhesus macaque another primate found in the country among many.  

Closer to apes perhaps, the langurs exhibit a distinct behavior pattern and social life much like humans.  Grooming is common to this animal and often they can be seen caressing the fur and picking up lice and other insects from each other's bodies. The behavior stimulates the skin as well and keeps the body clean. 

The primates display a distinct character that points to an appreciable level of intelligence and live in troops which is a group shared by a clan. The monkey is known to give birth to a single baby which sticks close to the mother. This is a very positive relationship that continues after birth through continued weaning and nursing the baby. These animals live entirely on fruits and leaves and unlike the graminivores do not survive in the grass. They also eat insects, grubs, and termites often right from the anthill.  Rarely aggressive they have become a commensal of man and are sometimes in conflict due to the food-snatching habit. 

I was able to film various behavioral aspects of the gray langur at Kanha National Park in Central India.  

                                                     Drinking water at forest lake. 

 

Monkeys Grooming 

The primates are tolerant of man and are found in all forests of India, towns, cities, and villages. They are not killed as they are considered to be associates of Lord Hanuman.  The animal is preyed upon by the tiger, leopard, and on rare occasions by the jackals and python. Some primitive tribes kill and consume entellus meat but it is largely out of the human food chain. There are four races of entellus found in India. 

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Langur & Deer Symbiotic Relationship (Mutualism)

Survival in the dense jungles of India has led to the evolution of a symbiotic relationship and often the monkey is found feeding with the deer. The advantage goes in favor of the spotted deer with the monkey perched on top dropping leaves and fruits for the deer to feed. The primates also keep a lookout for the predators being perched on the top.  Thanks to their keen sense the chital or spotted deer keep alert of the ground level and warn if a predator approaches thus mutually benefitting each other. 

         

                                                 Langur Picking Off Lice from Each Other

                                                       Langur Eating Grub at Anthill    

During a troop takeover by rival males, there can be disturbing violence with babies being snatched from the females and killed. This is done to bring the mother into oestrus. 

These Videos have been made from an open jeep moving as well as stationary ones. In the tiger reserves of India, foot excursions are not allowed. Filming on a running jeep needs practice and steady hands to minimize shaking.  

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Uday Freelances as Naturalist in Central India. He is an avid birder and tiger enthusiast. He blogs on tigers, wildlife, and birds. He also writes about the environment and conservation.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Content in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
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Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
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