Hanuman langur finds home at town treetops
Last Monday Naogaon town dwellers were greeted by an unusual visitor when a grey langur, also called a Hanuman langur, adopted the treetops of residential Bananipara as its home. Wherever the large monkey has roamed since, curious locals gather to catch a glimpse of the creature.
“I gave fruit and puffed rice to it,” says local Md. Mukul, “but the Hanuman was annoyed by the crowd of onlookers.”
Locals from the Hindu community meanwhile have greeted the black-faced monkey with the traditional religious sounds of the conch shell, kartal and dhol drums.
“It landed on the roof of Khaleque Master's house,” continues Mukul, “where it had more fruit and puffed rice and drank water.”
“It's a big monkey,” observes Khaleque Master. “We don't know where it's come from but it seems to be a wild animal.”
According to other locals the langur has been spotted in trees around the town for the past month but has only recently ventured into residential areas. While langurs usually move in groups, this animal appears to be alone.
Senior journalist Faridul Islam says he has already informed the local administration, including Naogaon sadar's upazila nirbahi officer Rabiul Islam of the langur's presence in the hope that steps can be taken to protect it. “It might've come from Kesebpur village in Jessore,” Faridul suggests, adding that after watching the animal for many hours he is concerned that it is yet to make a sound. Langurs are known to make a range of vocalisations.
Locals too hold fear for the langur's health. “It's gradually losing weight for a shortage of food,” says Afsar Ali of Bananipara. Like Faridul they hope forest department officials will come forward to save the langur.
UNO Rabiul Islam says he will take local forest department officials to catch the langur at the earliest opportunity, with the goal of saving its life.
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