Legends of the Langur

Published on: 06/05/2025

Photo title: Malabar sacred langur

|

Photo Credits: Vikram Nanjappa

For thousands of years the rocky barren landscape of Kishkindha has been home to legends of the mighty Vanarsena. A few hundred kilometres around modern day Hampi still offers encounters with primates of different kinds. Down by the River Kabini the black-footed gray langur and bonnet macaques are often beyond the forest, frequenting the villages. If you have a couple of hours to spare on an early morning, I would strongly recommend you take a short walk along the fields and huts that approach the entrance of the Nagarhole National Park. Be sure to find something interesting there!

The Malabar sacred langur, formerly called the Black-footed grey langur, or Hanuman langur, are one of the sixteen subspecies of grey langur found in India. Residents of the Western Ghats the Black-footed grey langur are also found along the patchy rainforests around western Karnataka (and parts of Maharashtra and Kerala), as well as the adjoining scrubby-deciduous forests and some agricultural areas.

There is an interesting story that describes how these wonderful silvery grey haired primates got their name. Certain versions of the Ramayana narrate the bravery of the grey langur as they jumped into galloping flames to help their dear Lord Hanuman. This in turn brought them injuries and left the clan with “burnt” faces, hands and feet and earned the name.

Photo title: Malabar sacred langur

|

Photo Credits: Vikram Nanjappa

Another noticeable feature of these large primates is their uncanny friendship with the chital or spotted deer. I discovered about the langur’s unique behaviour on our way to the forest from a local, who also happened to be our guide. As the safari began I kept an eye out for any movement at all. Sure enough a herd of chital showed up, a few kilometres into the forest. Mothers and fawns made their way cautiously, a step at a time, foraging in the soft morning light. A few feet away from the trail under a tall bare tree, huddled two young adult spotted deer. A closer look through my binoculars revealed that they were munching on leftovers that rained from above - thanks to the perching couple of grey langur. Mutually beneficial friendships are practiced across the animal kingdom, and for good reason. In dire straits it is these friendships that can bail one out! For instance when a predator approaches, the grey langur watches from his high perch and sounds the unmistakable alarm that puts the chital on guard. The CCTVs of these jungles are trusted by many.

Alarm calls are an integral part of the laborious process of tracking tigers. For the average wildlife enthusiast, and the not-so-average tourist, chasing a big cat on a safari is the ultimate adrenaline rush. Frequent halts in the jungle are a must in order for you to lend a discerning ear to the forest. If you’re lucky you could learn from expert Naturalists and guides about the undisclosed yet unanimously accepted hierarchy of calls. The practice is to overlook the call of the muntjac because the little fellows panic at the sight of almost anything! Their calls can be misleading. The chital is more cautious and seldom sounds an alarm without cause. But if you really need someone you can count on, it has to be the sambar. Calm and composed for the most part, the sambar will only raise an alarm when he has visuals of the predator or is under immediate attack. However if you want a fool-proof alarm system, well, please turn to the black footed grey langur. Not only do they have the best vantage points in the forest, their vision and sensory perceptions are truly unmatched. They can warn the entire jungle in a few seconds! Alternatively if you find the langur and macaques parading the forest floor, take it that you don’t have a tiger around.

The next time you’re busy tracking a big cat, watch out for the langur first! They’ll never fail you.

Preanka Roy

Preanka Roy is an adventurist by chance and a creative director by choice. With years of experience in Advertising, Marketing and Journalism behind her, Preanka has served at prominent organisations across India. An avid reader, author and published poet she enjoys different approaches to creative writing. Her deep love for the forests of South India has inspired her to take on environmental activism and forward the cause of wildlife conservation through photography.

Coorg

Hampi

Kabini

Kalahari

Legends of the Langur

Preanka Roy