Monkeying around

Powerful officials walk warily down the corridors of the North and South Blocks, alert for ambushes by monkeys.

Thousands of homeless monkeys have been living for decades in or around New Delhi's government buildings, including the prime minister's office and several city hospitals. But in recent years their numbers have swelled. Now under a new get-tough policy, squatting simians are to be arrested, kept in special halfway houses for three months before being exiled to neighbouring states.

The crackdown by India's federal environment ministry will snare over 5000 Rhesus macaques. The monkeys will first be gaoled in a city suburb before being transported to jungles in neighbouring Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. "We have tried putting the monkeys in forests around Delhi but they keep returning because food is easily available in the offices," said H.C. Dewan, chief wildlife warden.