Blind Followers of Traditions

India being a culturally and traditionally diverse country is a boon and bane as well. With diverse cultures and traditions comes a lot of myths and superstitions that are passed on from generation to generation unquestioningly. Some have been proved to be a boon for the environment, its wildlife and the people, but some have a direct opposite impact. This blog is about an animal that has fallen prey to the myths and superstitions in the Southern parts of India.

About the Nilgiri Langur

The Nilgiri Langur (Trachypithecus johnii) or the Indian Hooded Leaf Monkey or the Black Monkey is a species endemic to the Southern parts of India especially the Western Ghats and other ranges including parts of Karnataka and the hilly areas of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Nilgiri Langurs are diurnal creatures which means they are active during the day just like humans and while they are active they spend half of their time eating and playing and the other half resting, a life which many of us want. The Nilgiri Langurs can get up to 19 to 27 inches from head to the base of their tail. Only their tail can get up to 27 to 38 inches that is bigger than their body itself. Their long tail and athletic body is a sign of them being an arboreal species thus they spend most of their life time on the trees.

Like any other primate Nilgiri Langurs are social animals and live in troops of up to 1 to 30 individuals, usually the troop strength is around 9 to 15 only. In their troops they show social behaviors like grooming each other and playing. The diet of the Nilgiri Langurs includes up to 115 types of shrubs, vines, trees, etc. Surprisingly Nilgiri Langurs have also been seen eating soil, which the scientists believe to act as an antacid thus helping them in digestion. A few times they might eat small insects but it does contribute as a significant component in their diet.

Unfortunately they were and still are targeted by humans along with the myths and superstitions prevailing in our communities especially in the Southern parts of India. Today they are classified as Vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and their population is only between 5000 to 15000 individuals.

Threats

The main threats to the Nilgiri Langur are Poaching, Habitat Loss, Pet Trade, Forest Fire and Myths and Superstitions.

Every single day we are shamelessly invading their natural habitats and shooing them away despite of coexisting with them. We always talk about coexistence and we wait for a time to coexist but we need to understand that this is the time to live with them peacefully. We enter the habitats of other animals, take it away from them and proclaim it to be rightfully ours.

In the 1960’s in the Southern parts of India it was believed that soup or broth made from the flesh of the Nilgiri Langur is effective in curing Asthma which was common then and even now due to the cold and damp weather conditions which can be a common trigger for Asthma. There are absolutely no scientific basis for these folklores. It’s ludicrous how we are following traditions and myths without even knowing their significance and yet adhere to them subserviently and believe it to be the ultimate truth. Back then this created a hype among the doctors and the common people who used it for their advantage and made a profitable business of it thus playing on the beliefs of the locals.

Some parts of the Nilgiri Langur are also believed to be aphrodisiacs and sold illegally as a sex stimulant. Prior to the Wildlife Protect Act, 1972, these crude medicines were widely available and even advertised. Karinkorangu Rasayanam was one of the leading products at that time. The skin of the Nilgiri Langur was also used to make traditional drums. The wrong belief for the Nilgiri Langurs led to their indiscriminate poaching.

On top of it, during that time there were no rights for animals. With the implementation of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, rights were given to the animals and this led to a ban on the poaching and consumption of the Nilgiri Langurs. Steps were taken by the concerned authorities in the respective states to educate people. But unfortunately traditions started by their ancestors took a huge toll over the minds of the people thus making them blind followers of the traditions. The flesh, bones and skull of a single Nilgiri Langur is sold illegally for 10,000 rupees.

Even after the act being introduced, the Nilgiri Langurs are poached under the nose of the concerned authorities. Since, it is about traditions which are considered sacred, locals who are aware of it fear to retaliate. The concerned authorities are also hesitant to raise their voice against the beliefs of the people.

The concerned authorities need to take stern action against the lawbreakers and the perspective of the others need to be changed through education and awareness and not by force. Blaming and forcing them would only make the false beliefs rigid in their minds. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and CITES need to strictly enforced.

Each one of us also needs to educate ourselves and the others to save the Nilgiri Langurs. I hope this blog made a difference and helped to make a change to your beliefs about these magnificent primates. Animals and humans are going to inherit this planet for years to come, so lets stay together and truly coexist. It’s time, the choice is yours.