Sacred monkey of the Hindus. South India A species of monkeys in India is considered sacred

The Indian macaque (lat. Macaca radiata) is a small primate from the monkey family (Cercopithecidae). His head is decorated with luxurious hair, reminiscent of a dark cap. It is also called the bonnet macaque or zati. The animal is not afraid of humans and due to the contraction natural environment habitat willingly settles near villages and temples.

In many regions it causes serious damage to farmers, destroying crops in fields and plantations. The monkey is easily tamed and has a relatively docile and curious character. It is often used for laboratory research; in captivity it becomes strongly attached to its owner.

Spreading

The species is widespread throughout India. The largest populations are found in the coastal regions of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Monkeys easily adapt to various landscapes, preferring wooded areas. In the north of the country they settle in mountain forests at altitudes of about 2100 m above sea level. In the lowlands they inhabit primary and secondary forests, bush and savannas. In many Indian cities they make a living by begging and stealing food supplies.

To date, 2 subspecies are known – M.c. radiata and M.c. diluta. The second subspecies is found on the southeastern coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It differs from the nominate subspecies in having a lighter belly.

Behavior

Indian macaques lead an active daily lifestyle, forming groups with an average size of about 30 individuals. Unlike many other primates, they have no obvious hierarchical division during fur preening. Even dominant males take great pleasure in looking for insects in the fur of their young fellow tribesmen.

Monkeys on vacation try to experience close physical contact with members of their own sex. Older animals demonstrate obvious care for the younger ones, trying in every possible way to cheer them up, console and caress them. Young individuals love to scream loudly and game form imitate attacks on each other. In such games active participation Dominant males accept it, even allowing children and adolescents to bite themselves.

Home lots are very large. The area of ​​holdings of one group can reach 50 hectares. Primates usually stay in their area for a long time and leave it only after a significant decrease in the food supply. The territories of different groups, as a rule, intersect, but a meeting of two clans does not lead to aggression. Monkeys also coexist peacefully with langurs (Presbytis) and (Macaca Silenus).

Fruits occupy 47-53% of the total diet. In addition to them, the daily menu includes seeds, leaves and flowers of various plants.

Food of animal origin consists of insects, small lizards and frogs. Macaques especially like the fruits of karanja (Pongamia pinnata), fig tree (Ficus carica) and large grasshoppers (Tettigoniodea).

Animals are busy searching for food during daylight hours. IN populated areas willingly feed food waste local residents.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity in females occurs at the age of 3-4 years, and in males at 4-6 years. IN northern regions range mating season passes early spring, and in the rest all year round. Peak birth rates occur from February to April. Fertility of females depends on the abundance of food and social status.

Pregnancy lasts from 155 to 165 days. The female brings only one baby. Fathers do not take a direct part in raising their offspring and begin to show interest in them only after reaching adolescence. The cubs feed on mother's milk for 6-7 months.

Females give birth every 1-2 years and usually produce a total of about 5 babies. Menopause occurs at 27 years of age.

For the first six months, the cubs are inseparable from their mother, hanging on her back or paws. After finishing milk feeding, they learn to earn food on their own, and in the second year they move on to independent existence. Females stay with their closest relatives, and mature males join other clans.

Description

The length of the body and tail of adult individuals is 40-50 cm. Weight is 3000-6000 g. Females are smaller and lighter than males.

The fur color is brownish, yellowish-brownish or olive-brown. The abdomen is lighter. The face is reddish or flesh-colored, devoid of hair. There is also no fur on the ears.

Cheek pouches allow you to store and carry food. Their volume is approximately equal to the volume of the stomach. On the head there is a dark “cap” characteristic of this species. It is especially noticeable in sexually mature males.

Under natural conditions, the life expectancy of Indian macaques rarely exceeds 18-19 years. In captivity, with good care, it increases to 30 years.

India is a country located in the southern part of Asia, most of it is located on the Hindustan Peninsula. This state washes Indian Ocean, namely its Bay of Bengal and Arabian Bay.

Fauna of India

This country is home to many species of mammals, birds, insects and reptiles. Animal world India is very diverse. The most common fauna here are camels, monkeys, elephants, cows, and snakes.

Camel

These are the most common animals in India, they are mainly used for transporting goods, as well as for riding, in ancient times they even took part in battles.

There are two types of this animal - dromedary and bactrian, that is, one-humped and two-humped. Camels are herbivores. They are able to feed on those desert plants that are not eaten by any other animals. This, for example, An adult animal weighs about 500-800 kilograms, and it lives for 30-50 years. The camel body is very well adapted to survive in the desert. Thanks to the specific shape of red blood cells, a camel can drink an impressive amount of water at one time - 60-100 liters. Thus, the animal makes a supply of fluid, which can last for two weeks. When the camel for a long time does without water, its body gets it by burning fats, and the animal can lose most of its weight. In India, the milk of this animal is often consumed. It has a number beneficial properties: it contains vitamins C and D, microelements (calcium, magnesium, iron and others). Another positive feature of this product is that it contains very little casein, which makes milk difficult to digest.

Indian elephant

Elephants are also very common animals in India. In addition to the animal that lives in this state and bears the corresponding name, there is also another species of elephant - the African one. The Indian differs from it in that it has smaller ears and is smaller in size than the African. Another interesting thing is that both males and females have tusks, while in Indians only males have tusks. These animals are the largest land animals (they are surpassed in size only but they live in the ocean). Elephants are used as a means of transportation in the jungle. In India, these animals are very popular because of their docile nature. In addition, elephants often participate in religious celebrations.

Monkeys

These are very common animals in India. Species such as macaques, langurs and others live here. Many even live in big cities.

King of Beasts - Indian Tiger

Now there are only 3,200 individuals of this species left on the territory of this state. Many of them live in mangrove forests. Previously, these animals often attacked people, so they were exterminated in large quantities, but hunting tigers is not easy.

What kind of snakes live in India?

On the territory of this state lives on Earth - king cobra. However, people very rarely suffer from its bites, since it lives far in the forests, hunting small animals there. Much more dangerous to humans are sand f-hole. The first reaches 1.5-2 meters in length, has a rich yellow color and a dark pattern on the head, which is somewhat reminiscent of glasses, hence the name. The second belongs to the same family with vipers. Its length is small - about 70 centimeters. It's a snake brown with a zigzag pattern on the sides.

Peacock

Many people associate these birds with Indian culture. They are often found not only in the mythology of a given country, but also in Persian and Islamic legends. Even in Christianity there is a mention of the peacock - it is a symbol of life. IN Indian art This bird is very common - both in literature, music, and painting. Peacocks are very common in this state; they live almost everywhere.

What animals are considered sacred in India?

First of all, these are cows. Since ancient times, these are sacred animals of India. They were considered as such in Ancient Egypt. In the mythology of this country, there is a belief that after death you can get to heaven if you swim across the river while holding on to the tail of a cow. This is also due to the fact that the milk of this animal is very often consumed as food. Therefore, the cow is considered a symbol of life.

Another sacred animal of India is elephants. They are considered a symbol of wisdom, kindness and prudence, and are often depicted in homes and on temples. There are also sacred animals of India, which are representatives of certain gods. These are, for example, monkeys - they are considered the incarnation of the god Hanuman, an ally of Rama. Also, in India they are rats. There is even a whole temple dedicated to them - thousands of these animals live there. There is a legend associated with them in India. According to her, Karni Mata was a Hindu saint, and when one of her children died, she began to pray to the god of death Yama to return her son to her, and he turned all her sons into rats. There is also a snake cult in India. According to ancient legends, these animals are the patrons of the waters of the valley. If we turn to mythology, we can find out that snakes are the sons of Kadru. In myths, these animals are described in human images, they are endowed with such traits as wisdom, beauty and strength. In addition, in indian mythology There is also a peacock - Krishna’s headdress was decorated with its feathers. Temples dedicated to this god are painted with images of this bird.

Many inhabitants post-Soviet space imagine a monkey as a sweet and docile creature. The reason for this is good fairy tales and cartoons from the times of the USSR. Meanwhile, Rudyard Kipling was largely truthful when describing the evil banderlogs.

Thailand has long been particularly popular among Russian-speaking tourists. India has not been far behind in this indicator for some time now. But among the polite Indians and smiling Thais, there are increasingly other local residents who are much less friendly. Active deforestation in these countries has led to the fact that all more monkeys move to cities. Having discovered a good food base there for themselves and favorable conditions for everyday life and leisure, animals establish themselves in a new territory and begin to reproduce randomly. At the same time, both Thais and Indians traditionally give monkeys a certain sacred status, so there is no talk of shooting emigrants from the jungle. And measures such as sterilization give disappointing results.

Abusing permissiveness, the monkeys of India and Thailand diligently damage public and private property, break television antennas, and gnaw communication wires. Moreover, the researchers noticed that primates are capable of conscious, deliberate hooliganism. In the process of creating nasty things, they act secretly, constantly look around and are ready to give a damn. A separate sad topic for conversation is monkey kleptomania. Macaques, monkeys and other furry brethren steal not only food, but also things for human use, which are absolutely useless for animals. Swarms of monkeys stage devastating raids not only on the gardens of villagers, but also on houses and even apartments. There are cases where in India hordes of monkeys literally captured entire villages. It should be noted that while local residents are at least able to repel aggressors, tourists have a much more difficult time in this war. In the first half of 2013, 600 people were injured in monkey attacks in the Thai province of Krabi, including 450 foreign tourists.

The greatest trouble that primates can cause is physical attack. Urban monkeys, naturally, are not capable of ferocious reprisals in the spirit of an angry male gorilla - they are not that strong. But bites or scratches will require serious treatment from the victim: a minimum of tetanus vaccinations. Therefore, tourists should adopt some simple techniques, which, by the way, work great with our quite European dogs. From the main point: do not provoke primates. If your child is accustomed, due to your oversight, to teasing monkeys in the zoo, then keep in mind that in both India and Thailand animals are not fenced off with bars, they walk wherever they want and do whatever they want, disregarding laws, codes and others regulations local administration. Don't smile at cute monkeys! Copying in many ways human facial expressions, primates do not recognize smiles; for them, a smile is a demonstration of teeth, a grin. There is no need to be afraid of excessive monkey attention and run away - for the pack this can be a signal to attack. To drive away the tailed hooligan, sometimes it is enough to take a stick - the monkeys will realize that they are about to be beaten and will go in search of another victim. If a monkey persistently tries to take away the sandwich you recklessly decided to snack on right on the street, a reasonable solution would be to simply give the food back. There are known cases when a lone monkey, trying to take away fruit or chocolate from a tourist, received a slap on the wrist from him and immediately gathered a whole gang of associates with screams. Therefore, do not even think about beating beggars - it is not only unethical, but also dangerous. You should be especially careful if a whole flock led by a leader is interested in you.

Photo: stuartshepherd.co.uk

It happens that insolent monkeys simply surround the tourist and do not allow him passage. In this case, a brave throw of a banana (or any food product) as far and to the side as possible will help. The flock will quickly rush after the prey, and you will be able to retreat quietly. There is also no shame in asking any local passerby for help - primates clearly separate tourists from natives. Some guests in India said that extortion monkeys are especially afraid of the police and will flee the crime scene at the mere sight of an official uniform. It is also a smart idea to follow the warning signs about the dangers of feeding monkeys. Treat one cute animal and you will get several dozen who want to receive no less goodies. And given that the primates are accustomed to the generous gifts of tourists, they will brazenly terrorize any guest of the country for food. Watch your children especially carefully and be always nearby: monkeys can mistake children for play partners, and during such “fun” scratches and even bites are possible.

Photo: isastudentblog.wordpress.com

A lot of work will be required from you to preserve your belongings. Monkeys are not only skillful at stealing on the streets, they can easily break into homes, and they have enough ingenuity to climb into, for example, a refrigerator. Keep in mind, even if you check into a fairly high floor of the hotel, this will not be a hindrance for the monkey. And when you go out onto the balcony of the fifth floor, for example, to admire the morning Delhi, do not be surprised when you come across the demanding gaze of a macaque waiting for you. Thieves confidently open backpacks and bags; a zipper lock is no longer a hindrance for them; they deftly rip off any jewelry from hands and necks. Be prepared to meet monkeys criminal groups not only in the middle of a park or boulevard, but also in cafes, supermarkets and even in government agencies.

Be careful during a photo shoot: cute monkeys may willingly pose, but then steal the camera as a fee. When going on a city tour, remove all items of clothing that can be grabbed and torn off: belts, waistbands, phone cases, purses. Take care of your hats; monkeys do not wear hats or caps, but do not miss the opportunity to rip them right off their heads. If you wear glasses, be prepared for some monkey to steal them. Women should not use bright and shiny hair clips - monkeys often grab them for unknown purposes. Hold any valuables tightly to you; If the furry villain fails to steal the item using the element of surprise, he will most likely escape. If you use a car when visiting India, leave it in the parking lot, remove the windshield wipers, the antenna and hide everything inside the cabin that the monkeys can tear off - they will definitely try.

Photo: framework.latimes.com

In many countries in the East Asian region, monkeys behave in a decorous and well-mannered manner. But when visiting the cities, resorts and beaches of Thailand and India, be prepared to encounter monkey mayhem. And don’t be fooled by its appearance: this cute and funny animal can cause a lot of trouble.

Photo: thecrowdedplanet.com

Order - Primates / Suborder - Dry-nosed / Infraorder - Apes / Parvoorder - Narrow-nosed monkeys/ Superfamily - Dog-headed / Family - Marmosets / Genus - Macaques

History of the study

Indian macaque, or bonnet macaque (lat. Macaca radiata) is one of the species of macaques.

The Indian macaque was identified as a separate species of its family, the marmosets, in the early 19th century, in 1812. However, until now, for more than two hundred years, there has been a debate about their further classification, since many believe that there are two more subspecies of these animals. However, no one can yet accurately determine and confirm the presence of such diversity, since even if there are other species, they live in very close connection with each other.

Spreading

Habitats of the species: mountainous tropical forests India, sometimes go to cities.

Appearance

Adults, both male and female, have approximately the same height - from 40 to 60 cm. However, their sexual division can be distinguished differently external sign– proportionality of the tail. With the same body length, the length of their tails ranges from 55 cm (in females) to 70 cm (in males). The mass of primates of this species is small. So in females the weight is about five kilograms, and in males 7–8 kg.

The structure of the head of bonnet macaques has its own characteristics. They have a completely flat profile, and their skin painted light brown. Also in its structure you can find cheek pouches, which is explained by their type of nutrition. As a rule, they store small plants and nuts in these compartments.

The color of the coat has a light brown tint and is almost uniform, as is its strong density.

Lifestyle

The ideal habitat for these animals is the tropical forests of India, which are located in mountainous areas. Slopes are most comfortable for these monkeys, which every now and then descend to the ground. They are diurnal animals and sleep on tree branches at night.

Indian macaques live in large flocks. Thus, on one branched tree located on a slope, a friendly family of up to 80 individuals can huddle.

The hierarchical system of relationships is based on maternal kinship. Young females remain in their native herd even after reaching sexual maturity, while males at this age are forced to leave the herd.

Nutrition

Macaque feeding ripe fruits, leaves, insects, as well as crops on agricultural plantations - grains, rice, peanuts, coconuts and coffee beans.

Number

Thanks to such large communities, as well as the unpretentious nature of their habitat and animal protection measures in India, Indian bonnet macaques are not in danger of extinction in the near future.

People who are not initiated into Hindu beliefs are usually extremely surprised to see how at ease monkeys feel in Indian bazaars. They climb everywhere, steal fruits and other foodstuffs from the shelves, and no one drives them away - on the contrary, it seems that they are expected here as dear guests. Such honors are awarded to the Hindus living in India and Sri Lanka, the monkey hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus). Some of them destroy fields and gardens, while others, who live in temples, are brought food by local residents themselves.

Hindus have every reason to revere monkeys: according to their ideas, the monkey god Hanuman miraculously saved the wife of the god Rama, Sita, from the encroachments of the demon Ramana. Rama is one of the supreme Indian gods, and Hanuman was honored to be his associate. Hanuman is also considered the patron of the arts and healing.

This deity is worshiped by millions of Hindus and his images can be found in many Hindu homes. Temples are erected in honor of Hanuman - some pilgrims on the way to such a temple even try to imitate the behavior of monkeys, thereby showing the greatest respect to their idol. During religious festivals, bright, colorful processions of thousands of believers move through the streets, carrying images of the monkey god. The participants in the celebrations were filled with trembling excitement, and, as one witness to such a spectacle wrote, “no one refused to give alms to the numerous beggars sitting along the streets.”

According to Hindu beliefs, anyone who settles in the resting place of the monkey Hanuman will soon be overtaken by death. There are special “clairvoyants” who are invited to find out whether the remains of a monkey are buried in the place chosen to build a house.

It goes without saying that among religious Hindus, offending a sacred monkey is considered a grave sin, which some irresponsible people take advantage of by “inviting” monkeys to “annoy” an enemy or a quarrelsome neighbor. For this purpose, they sprinkle rice on the roof of his house. The monkey instantly realizes what’s going on and goes for the treat. And since grains of rice inevitably roll under the tiles that cover the roof, the monkey breaks them off in search of a treat, thus causing considerable damage to the unwanted one. And try to touch her!

Monkeys of the genus langurs ( Presbytis) are considered the fastest primates on earth, capable of running at speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour. They can also jump from one tree to another, 15 meters away. When a monkey gives birth to a baby, the new mother is immediately surrounded by many females, obviously delighted with the addition to the family. The cub is strikingly different in color from adult monkey. In these monkeys, there were cases of killing of cubs when a foreign male took the place of the head of the family. Some scientists explain this violent behavior the fact that females who have lost their offspring quickly become ready to resume sexual life, because they now no longer need to feed the cub with milk. According to scientists, the male knows about this and destroys the offspring left from the previous father.

Another interesting monkey from the langur genus is the common proboscis monkey, or kahau ( Nasalis larvatus), found in the swampy forests of Borneo. Some biologists consider it the most extravagant of all monkey species. The male has an amazing nose, reaching 17 centimeters in length and hanging below the chin. Accurate explanations for this miracle of nature have not yet been found, but it seems that long nose serves as a resonator for the male with characteristic loud “call signs” reminiscent of “kahau” (hence the second name of the proboscis whale). And the locals call this monkey “blanda,” as they called the first Dutch colonists.

Monkeys can also be found in some temples in Nepal, but here the Rhesus monkey is held in high esteem ( Macaca mulatta). Whole crowds of these tailed creatures roam freely around some Hindu temples. They say that people settled sacred monkeys in temples two thousand years ago - since then they have lived there, generation after generation. Currently, about 300 rhesus macaques permanently reside in the famous Pashupati Temple in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Is it necessary to explain what a comfortable life they lead in this sacred place for Hindus? They are fed everything: rice, ground nuts, and pumpkin! When they go out for a walk, people vying with each other to offer them sweets. Sacred monkeys are strongly protected by Nepalese laws.

Rhesus macaques can also be seen in the Buddhist temple in Swayambhu - apparently, in ancient times, these animals came here from the forest, and when people fed them, they decided to stay here forever.