- Title: Monkeys terrorise tourists at India’s white-marble Taj Mahal monument
- Date: 20th September 2022
- Summary: AGRA, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 19, 2022) (ANI - No use India) VARIOUS OF INDIA'S WHITE-MARBLE TAJ MAHAL MONUMENT PEOPLE WALKING IN AREA OUTSIDE TAJ MAHAL MONKEYS CLIMBING MONKEYS RUNNING ON ROAD MONKEYS SITTING ON WALL MONKEYS ON WALL AND SHUTTERS OF CLOSED SHOP MONKEY SNATCHING FOOD ITEM FROM TOURIST/TOURISTS WALKING AWAY MONKEY WITH JUICE PACKET IN ITS MOUTH MONKEY RUNNING BESIDE TOURIST (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) TOURIST, SAISHA RAJPUT, SAYING: "The monkeys have troubled us a lot. They snatched my glasses and broke them. As you can see they have created an atmosphere of terror." MONKEYS RUNNING ON ROAD/MONKEY SITTING MONKEY ON DUSTBINS AND STAIRS (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) TOURIST, PRATHAM (LAST NAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING: "In India, Agra has a monument and it (Taj Mahal) is a historical place so, this (monkey menace) is creating a negative influence for the foreigners who are coming from outside. So, I request (the authorities) to take some action so that they (monkeys) do not attack anyone." MONKEY JUMPING ON DUSTBIN/DUSTBIN MOVING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SUPERINTENDENT, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, AGRA, DR. RAJKUMAR PATEL, SAYING: "We are requesting the tourists that they should not go near monkeys for selfies. If two groups (of monkeys) are fighting…one can figure out from their behaviour that they are angry so they should not go near them. They should maintain distance. Therefore, I request the tourists that they should maintain distance whenever they visit the Taj Mahal or any monument. Apart from this, when a group of monkeys come then for that, we have also readied a dedicated team." PEOPLE WALKING MEN RIDING BICYCLES AS OTHERS STAND
- Embargoed: 4th October 2022 08:28
- Keywords: Agra India Taj Mahal animal attack monkeys monument tourists white marble
- Location: AGRA, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA
- City: AGRA, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001GUJZ4GF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Tourists visiting India's White-Marble Taj Mahal monument in northern Agra city have been struck by monkey menace with the primates attacking them.
India's best-known attraction, the Taj Mahal is visited by nearly seven million tourists a year, according to official data.
The monkeys forage for food around the entrance to the 17th-century monument in the northern city of Agra, where visitors' bags are scanned and food thrown away.
Monkeys snatched food items, and belongings and broke accessories of the tourists, causing them trouble and creating fear among them.
They also reportedly attacked a foreign visitor.
"The monkeys have troubled us a lot. They snatched my glasses and broke them. As you can see they have created an atmosphere of terror," said a tourist, Saisha Rajput.
Superintendent, Archaeological Survey of India, Agra, Dr. Rajkumar Patel said they were advising tourists to take precautions and a dedicated team had been deployed to help keep tourists safe from the monkeys.
Monkeys are revered in India for their equivalence with Hindu God Hanuman. They are worshipped in some places, offered food, and considered auspicious. However, over the past few decades, with the decreasing forest cover and increasing human-wildlife contact, incidents of monkey menace have increased in the country. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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