As Delhi prepares to host the badminton world championships, city authorities have turned to an unconventional pest control strategy: hiring professionals who can mimic the shrieks of langur monkeys to scare away troops of rhesus macaques that are ubiquitous across the Indian capital. The BWF World Championships rank among the sport's most prestigious titles, drawing top players from dozens of countries, and Indian officials are keen to present a smoothly run event on the global stage.

Rhesus macaques roam Delhi in large numbers, stealing food, damaging property, and creating hazards in public spaces. The problem is decades-old: monkeys have long been a fixture around government buildings, diplomatic enclaves, and residential neighborhoods, with past attempts at control including capture-and-relocation programs and sterilization drives that have yielded only limited success. The langur, a larger and more dominant primate species, is a natural rival of the macaque, and the sound of its call alone is enough to send macaques fleeing. For years, Delhi municipal authorities relied on handlers who walked real langurs on leashes to patrol government buildings and VIP areas. However, changes in India's wildlife protection regulations have restricted the practice of keeping langurs in captivity, prompting a shift toward human vocal impersonators who can replicate the intimidating calls.

These vocal professionals, whose ability to imitate langur shrieks has now become a specialized and employable skill, are being deployed at championship venues to ensure the international badminton event proceeds without disruption from the city's persistent monkey population.

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