11 - India's rhesus populations: Protectionism versus conservation management

Summary

Introduction

The rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) population of India has long been one of the classic non-human primate populations of the world. Scientific field studies of abundance were not undertaken until the 1950s, but leading naturalists in India estimated their numbers in the millions “in the United Provinces alone [Uttar Pradesh] the monkey population– in my opinion–is not less than 10 million…” (Corbett, 1953). Other naturalists referred to “vast hordes of rhesus roam large parts of India…” (Sanderson, 1957). Rhesus were abundant in forests, agricultural areas, villages, roadsides, parks, temples, and limited areas in towns and cities.

Although the truly sacred monkey of classical Hinduism is the Common or Hanuman langur, rhesus are also considered sacred animals, representatives of the Monkey God, Hanuman. Hanuman holds a high status in Hindu religion since the Monkey God played a key role in the reunion of Rama, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and his beloved wife, Sita. Sita had been kidnapped by the Demon King, Ravana, and taken to the island of Lanka (Ceylon). The defeat of Ravana by Hanuman and his troop of monkeys and reunion of Rama and Sita symbolized the victory of Good over Evil. This is a central concept in Hindu philosophy, and still a very common belief today. It is celebrated every year throughout India in the story of the Ramayana, and the song, dance, and classical drama of the Ramlila.