When langoor calls become a livelihood — and a lifeline in Panchkula

Panchkula: For Yosuaf Ali, the day begins with a sound most people can't imitate — a langoor call that sends monkeys scrambling off roofs. With the Panchkula municipal corporation unable to rope in an agency despite multiple tenders, residents of Sector 25 with the help of Nada Sahib Gurdwara management have turned to men like him to protect their homes from relentless simian trouble.Located close to forested areas, the neighbourhood has long struggled with monkeys entering homes, damaging property and even attacking residents.Yosuaf, a Maloya resident who works in Sector 25, said he patrols the lanes from 10am to 6pm, using langoor calls to drive the monkeys away. "We once kept langoors and used to take them to affected areas. After a ban was imposed on keeping langoors, we learnt the sounds ourselves as we lived with them for years," he said.He said monkeys recognise his voice, making the calls more effective. "New monkeys sometimes don't budge — I have to catch them and make the sound up close. I've even been bitten while doing this. My brother does the same job at Nada Sahib Gurdwara," he said.Residents say the menace has become unbearable. Sandhya Gupta of Sector 25 said groups of 20 monkeys roam the area daily, scattering garbage and damaging homes. "By the time the monkey man arrives, the chaos is already done. We need a permanent solution," she said.Another resident, Mohit Gupta, said monkeys arrive in large troops, attacking people, destroying gardens and littering homes. He called for sterilisation, relocation and strict action against residents who attract monkeys by feeding them. "Court orders haven't helped so far," he added."The Punjab and Haryana high court had earlier observed in a case that the Panchkula Municipal Corporation would ‘do well if they set up a special monkey sterilisation centre' to neutralise the monkeys. A population census was ordered as an ‘essential prerequisite' before carrying out a large-scale sterilisation drive. The MC was ordered to ensure the area remained ‘rubbish-free' so that monkeys are not drawn to residential spots by garbage," he added.