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
09755089323 

Wildlife Photography : Kanha National Park

Situated in Maikal Hills the last leg of Satpura where the Vindhya Range meet...the amazing tiger landscape of Central India is home to equally amazing biodiversity. In this blog post, I have added images of enchanting wildlife of Kanha which expresses the diveristy, testifying the miracle that our beloved Earth is about.  

In this bewildering tiger landscape, mammals, birds, reptiles and insects abound. During the tiger safari alert senses deliver optimum opportunities to film and photograph wildlife in its natural confines. A good camera with a good lens works wonder along with a keen sense of capturing the right composition, large long focal length lenses are not required and even an amateur can deliver wonderful results whence working with dilligence.

Puff Ball Fungi

Common Kingfisher

Indian Scops Owl

Wild Boar

Hard Ground Swamp Deer

 Red Naped Ibis 

Crested Hawk Eagle

Black Naped Hare

Tiger

Sambar Deer

Monitor Lizard

Jackal

Giant Wood Spider

Python

Lotus

Mongoose

While these are average photographs captured using an average camera which solves the purpose of the naturalists and amateur wildlife enthusiasts. Photography is an important tool for studying wildlife and for preserving records. 

Kanha Tiger Reserve offers immense opportunity to see, photograph and film wildlife diversity in its natural form. Mad chase for tiger is not that rewarding. Whence on tiger safari study all elements holistically and with profound keeness to enliven your holiday!!
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I work as naturalist/birding guide at Kanha National Park in Central India.
I also provide Digital Marketing Services and website Contents.
Contact: 975508932
pateluday90@hotmail.com