INDIAN MONKEY BOY

Samarth Bangari, a two-year-old boy in Allapur, a south Indian village 250 miles (400km) from Bangalore, was spotted playing with nearly two dozen grey langur monkeys. His uncle Barama Reddy said it was “strange” for the monkeys to behave like that, and villagers feared the boy would be attacked while his parents worked in a nearby field; but it soon became clear they were more than comfortable in his presence, with the little boy happy to share some of his food with the visiting troupe. “Since that day, the monkeys haven’t missed a day,” said Reddy. “They come to the house around the same time. Even if he is sleeping, they first wake him up, and then sit with him for an hour or two.”

The unusual relationship piqued local interest, and soon people began visiting the house to catch a glimpse of young Samarth tottering around the farm with 20 langurs in tow. Thinking the monkeys must enjoy the company of children, they plonked another youngster next to Samarth, but the langur pack became aggressive. Reddy said Samarth was now a local legend due to his “special bond” with the monkeys, whose sounds he mimics even though he cannot speak yet. “Everyone thinks that he is special and they are communicating with each other, and can understand what is being said.” [AFP] 21 Dec 2017. Photos: MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP/Getty Images. For children raised by monkeys (and other animals), see Paul Sieveking, ‘Wild Things’, FT161:34-41.