Karimnagar Forest Division fines man for caging Hanuman Langur, following complaint from PETA India-Telangana Today

Gray langurs are protected under Schedule II of the WPA, 1972, which makes their capture, keeping in captivity as “pets” or forcing them to commit an offense punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine which may extend to Rs 1. lakh, or both.

Hyderabad: A gray langur, commonly known as Hanuman langur, was rescued from two years of caged captivity by the Karimnagar Forest Division following information provided by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.

After being alerted to a gray langu being chained in a cage for over two years, PETA India alerted the Karimnagar forest division of the Telangana forest department to register a preliminary offense report against the accused. Following this, the primate was rescued and rehabilitated, then released into its natural habitat after following the necessary protocols, including health checks.

Gray langurs are protected under Schedule II of the WPA, 1972, which makes their capture, keeping in captivity as “pets” or forcing them to commit an offense punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine which may extend to Rs 1. lakh, or both.

“PETA India thanks the Karimnagar Forest Division, especially Showkath Hussain, Forest Range Officer, for their prompt action to save the captive langur and ensure the registration of a POR,” said Sinchana Subramanyan, Response Coordinator to the cruelties of PETA India.

In forests, Hanuman langurs generally live in groups of dozens of individuals. They spend much of their time playing, grooming, and participating in other social activities. Family members are always on the lookout for danger and quickly rush to defend their loved ones.

Monkeys kept in homes as “pets” or forced to dance are often chained or confined in cramped cages. When used for entertainment, they are usually trained by beatings and food deprivation, and their teeth are usually pulled out to prevent them from defending themselves.

In 1998, the central government issued a notification under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, stipulating that monkeys and several other species of wild animals should not be exhibited or trained as show animals .