Grey Langurs Spotted on Banjara Hills streets

Hyderabad: Residents of Banjara Hills were surprised to see a group of gray langurs roaming the streets and main roads. While gray langurs are commonly found in many forested, green and rural parts of Telangana, their sighting in the middle of dense urban areas of Hyderabad is rare.

Gray langurs, also known as Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus species), occur naturally in dry deciduous forests, shrublands and rocky hill regions in India. They feed mostly on leaves, fruits, flowers and seeds and live in groups, usually led by a dominant male.

Although langurs are found in and around Hyderabad, they are usually seen in green areas such as forest areas, parks and city outskirts rather than busy roads. Langurs were previously spotted in KBR Park in Jubilee Hills and the foothills of Hyderabad near Ananthagiri Hills, Ameenpur, Gundlapochampally and so on, but rarely in urban areas.

Langurs are also used to repel rhesus monkeys, which raid homes in various parts of the city.

Experts believe that urban landscapes may occur if langurs move through fragmented green areas in search of food or water, or if their natural habitats are disturbed. As Hyderabad continues to expand, the movement of wildlife into residential areas has become more frequent, especially in areas close to forest blocks and rocky terrain.

Telangana zoo parks director Dr. Sunil S. Hiremath said, “Langurs need greenery and ecology. We need to meet with the relevant teams to analyze and understand why they are in urban areas.”