No, not the parade for hopeful courting teenagers!
This was a trooping ‘home’ of scores of simians across the roof behind the Gateway hotel in Coonoor, and up a nearby tree to wherever it is they bed down for the night! I am guessing leaving room doors open here isn’t an option.
Although not part of the parade, I couldn’t resist including little Hanuman (as Meredith would surely have named him) and his adoring mom, who I captured on the highway, against R’s dire warnings about getting mauled and having my camera snatched away. I admit it was foolhardy of me, but just look at them!
Happy Thursday!
The Urge To Wander 
This is Awesome, So sweet, Madhu!!! Thank you for sharing!!!!
Thank you for reading. The link to your site from your name seems to be broken Lunagirl.
Nur gut das wir die nicht haben. LG. Wolfgang
I take it you don’t like monkeys Wolfgang! 🙂
Great post!! Pictures are fun to look at,they make me smile!!
Thank you
Happy you enjoyed them Maxine. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment 🙂
I am so touched and speechless. Priceless images, Madhu. I am a big sucker for animals – especially donkeys, monkeys…. How close were you to little Hanuman? What would they have done if you had left your door open? A big thank you for this gift. 🙂
You are most welcome dear Paula! I know your fondness for animals. And pigeons 😀 Monkeys are aggressive thieves, so leaving rooms open with so many of them around would be inviting trouble. I was a nervous 8 – 10 feet away from Hanuman and I also had to keep an eye open for traffic rounding the bend from behind me. Hubby was ready to certify me 🙂
Fascinating.. they look so cuddly and harmless. Not long ago I read an article in “New Scientist” about a 4-year chimpanzee war that broke out in Tanzania in 1971. Males were castrating other males, beating the crap out of females, and females eating other chimps’ young- shocking! I still put on my rose-tinted glasses when I go to a zoo…
That kind of behaviour had to have been brought on by trauma induced by human intervention. I refuse to believe animals behave like that without provocation.
I share your views Madhu, though “New Scientist” states that they are just like humans, but I refuse to believe that 😦
Me too. The attacks in Africa I have read of, were all by chimps that had escaped from captivity. Shall check out the New Science site.
Your last capture is a heartfelt portrait of mother and baby. Truly, lovely.
Thank you Sally. I love their body language. I think the mother sensed the baby’s fear and was trying to reassure it!
lolo, this is quite funny :), nice shoots
Glad you enjoyed my monkey gallery Moersalin. Thank you for your visit and comment.
that is indeed beautiful.. reminded me of a monkey forest i went two years ago it had them in millions 🙂
Thank you Bikramjit. A monkey forest with millions of monkeys sounds creepy….a mini planet of the apes!! 🙂
Love these. Wonderful shots Madhu 🙂
Thank you Norma. Delighted you do 🙂 Have a great weekend.
Lovely
Thank you for your visit and comment 🙂
Hello darling … tiny perfect little fingers and toes – just toooo beautiful, clutching hard, listening hard and daring, just to sneak a peek at that strange lady with the weird eye! I suppose
R’s right, but Mama’s not seeing you, playing invisible, so I think she’d have dematerialised if you came within her discomfort zone. But boy, did you ever get close … fantastic shot Madhu – thanks – I so enjoyed meeting young Mr. H. 🙂
I knew you would Meredith! 🙂 I did get the ‘keep your distance” look as you can see, and if I hadn’t heeded it I would have been in trouble.
The adorable Mr.H never once let go of mama’s teat!
The fierceness of mothers! Another gorgeous shot – thank you for showing me 🙂
What a treat, Madhu! An amazing experience for you, I’ll bet. I wouldn’t have been able to keep the camera still. Beautiful creatures!
Thank you Elisa. I enjoyed watching the mother and child especially.
These shots are just magical so well worth your endeavors, Madhu
Thank you Dallas. I don’t remember seeing so many when we lived there!
Madhu, I admire your courage especially for the Mom and Baby monkey photo. I was a teenager and learned my lesson about taking pictures of a Mamma Monkey and her baby. As soon as my camera flashed, the Mamma monkey with her baby attached ran towards me and I ran for life. I am glad I could get inside the house and in safe quarters, but my heart was pounding for a very long time.
You can’t blame them for getting spooked by your flash can you? 🙂 Mothers with babies are going to be particularly wary of threats and any sudden movement or light will surely be perceived as one. I rarely use flash.
Wonderful images, Madhu! You’re brave, I once had a very frightening encounter with monkeys at Bali, no, twice actually – and I have a lot of respect for this animals. 🙂 They are beautiful, but also aggressive; not only being protective. I once went to a temple and were sitting outside with friends enjoying the glorious sunset; it was as if they had been waiting for us to arrive. Several of the monkeys lined up, attacked and went straight for our bags, the picnic, the water bottles … Quite scary, actually.
Thank you Dina. I think they are worst at touristy places like Bali. These were not as accustomed to people or easy food. Still, I agree that it is safer to maintain a healthy distance 🙂
Is incredible the beauty of these small mammals… so like us 😉
They are great pictures, thanks dear Madhu
Thank you Claudine. The mother and child seemed uncannily human! 🙂
Interesting pictures. Good to keep a safe distance 🙂
I know! Have a great weekend Dilip 🙂
The mummy and baby shot is so touching, glad you made it out in one piece!
🙂 The risk was worth it for me Gilly.
Wonderful photos, Madhu! I can’t imagine what might happen if hotel room doors were left open at night! I am in love with the mama and baby photo the most.
Nothing more serious than a few missing ‘trinkets’ or fruit Angeline, unless they were surprised and felt cornered. The mama and baby were adorable! I would have spent more time with them if I didn’t have a plane to catch 🙂
Amazing shots, Madhu. That mom and baby are just the cutest ever. Glad you took the risk. 🙂
Thank you Sylvia. I think hubby exaggerated the risk a bit 🙂
The monkey kingdom! Beautiful shots, my dear Madhu! 🙂
Yes! Thank you Marina. Happy Sunday! 🙂
I remember the langur monkeys crashing around on our hill leave bungalows at Mussoorie and the pesky little critters who used to break into our vacation bungalows in Kodaikanal and steal our bananas, The classic monkey story I remember was when we lived in Pune and one escaped its cage and tried to ride around on the back of my daughter’s pet hen. 🙂
Ha, ha, that must have been quite a sight Ian!! 😀
They are so human ! I don’t imagine keeping the door open is advisable 🙂
Not at all 🙂 And yes they are startlingly human sometimes.
🙈🙉🙊 I would spend all day watching I think
Awww…that mom-kid pic is such a cute one. Lovely and completely worth the risk taken. 🙂
Thank you Rekha. Glad you agree 🙂
Fun creatures, especially when they are in someone else’s yard. Great up close photography Madhu.
True, I would hate them as much as the pigeons on my balcony if they lived on my mango tree and pilfered from my house 🙂 Thank you Ron. Pleasure to see you here.
Fantastic captures!
Thank you Sid! Happy Sunday!
fantastic photo of the mother and baby Madhu! so glad you were brave and careful, well done indeed!
Thank you Christine. No bravery involved, just a bit of caution, and I was happy with the result 🙂
I would have risked it and taken that photo of the mom and baby, too, Madhu. How adorable. The other monkeys were cute, but I can just envision the mischief. 😉
Yes, they would be hard to resist for any blogger! 🙂 Thanks Judy.
Wonderful photos, Madhu and the mother/baby shot is so sweet! Happy Friday! I’m a day late! 🙂
Thank you, and a very happy Sunday in advance 🙂
Awwwwe… That is so cute! 😀
Aren’t they just? 🙂
Lovely captures!
Thank you Niranjan.
Fantastic images … and that last one is .. so heart melting. Beautiful.
Thank you Viveka. Heart melting is the right word. I got misty eyed when I saw that look on the mama’s face 🙂
Madhu, that image is just magical … so lovely. Me too!
Lovely to see our local scene with vervets mirrored in your versions!
very, very kind!
thank you so much
These were quite wonderful. The last one is especially the last one. You are such a talent
Delightful post! Love the last photo of mother and child. 🙂
Oh! Oh! Oh! You reckless woman, that is the most beautiful image! 🙂
Madhu, can I check that you are ok and that noone you love is involved in the building collapse in Chennai? I saw the news headlines just a few minutes ago.
Thank you Jo. Appreciate your concern. No one I know was in that accident. Can you imagine the carelessness of those builders? Arrested now, but who is to answer for the lives lost?
I didn’t fully understand the cause, Madhu? I thought they were blaming excessive rain but surely that should be taken account of?
Yesterday’s sudden sharp thunderstorm lasted little over an hour!! Nothing like our incessant and cyclonic monsoons. It had to be faulty construction and suspect material. The building was not yet ready or the death toll would have been higher.
Cutting corners for profit. At what cost! I’m sorry for all concerned.
Me too. And angry.
Each photo showcases a cute face but the mother with her baby is precious.
Sweet !!! Great photos in this post. ~~~ : – )
Thank you Isadora. That is my favourite as well 🙂
amazing, Madhu…and the last photo – so touching…
Thank you Ese.
Beautiful shots but you’re braver than me to risk the camera like that!
Foolhardy, I know! 🙂
All wonderful captures – but the last one really touch my heart… 😀
Cute aren’t they? 🙂 Thanks Drake.
No doubt so cute… 😉
Macaques are prevalent in Singapore. Due to indiscriminate feeding by humans – these are now a pest – I meant, the humans 🙂
😀 I can imagine. I would hate to have them inhabit my mango tree!
That last photograph is a gem, Madhu!
Thank you Uday. I am happy with the way that shot turned out, considering I was poised for flight 🙂
That shot of Hanuman and his mother was clearly worth the risk, I think! The macaques of Coonoor look less mischievous than the ones of Bali, but what do I know, appearances may be deceiving… 🙂
It must be the excessive interaction with tourists that turns them aggressive James. These are less accustomed to easy food, although I am sure they must be a nuisance near the parks where tourists picnic during season. I found the Coatis in Iguazu just as pesky!
Loved the series on them in Pink City on Nat Geo 🙂
Haven’t seen it Andrew. Shall see if I can find a video. I know monkeys are venerated in Rajasthan.