Monkey menace returns to Taj days before visit of G-20 delegates, ASI says ‘no risk of attack’

Monkeys tore down the vertical garden near the VIP gate of the Taj Mahal Thursday, raising concerns about the safety of G-20 nation delegates set to visit the monument 12 February.

File photo of the Taj | Amir Qureshi | ThePrint

Agra: As Agra gets ready to welcome G-20 nation delegates, who will be visiting the Uttar Pradesh city this month to attend events in the run-up to the international summit, it is grappling with monkey menace at the Taj Mahal, despite the administration’s claims that it has managed to control the simian population.

The Taj Mahal has been infested with monkeys for a long time. When the preparations for G-20 representatives began, a fresh exercise was carried out to catch monkeys in December 2022. About a month ago, large cages were installed at the Taj to catch monkeys. After this, it was claimed that the menace had been controlled to a large extent. 

But this Thursday, monkeys tore down the vertical garden planted near the VIP gate of the Taj Mahal, exposing the lack of preparation. Work of replanting this garden has begun but with guests set to visit the monument 12 February, but keeping a check on monkeys during the VIP visit may prove to be a challenge for the administration.

Speaking to ThePrint, Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber secretary Vishal Sharma said since the Taj Mahal is surrounded by greenery, animals have become a part of its ambience. “While some people may even find them charming, they are a safety concern during the visit of G-20 guests,” he said. 

He also said that in the recent months, there have been several reports of tourists either being attacked or their possessions snatched by monkeys. He demanded that immediate measures be taken to keep both tourists and G-20 guests safe. This could include providing protective gear to visitors or installing warning signs.

Archaeological Survey of India superintending archaeologist, Agra circle, Rajkumar Patel rubbished concerns that the ASI did not have enough manpower and armed guards at the Taj to keep a check on the menace. Speaking to ThePrint, he said that last month, the Agra Municipal Corporation, ASI, and the Forest Department caught 200 monkeys from the Taj Mahal and released them in the wild. 

Patel said that monkeys do not attack unprovoked. “They will only attack if disturbed or threatened. When the VVIP delegation arrives at the Taj Mahal, the general public will not be allowed inside. Since the delegation will be surrounded by security personnel, there is no risk of a monkey attack,” he said.

UP will be hosting about a dozen Summit-related events from February to August 2023, with the first one beginning in Agra and the last in Varanasi, as per the government of India schedule.

(Edited by Smriti Sinha)