Organisers Deploy 'Langur Mimics' to Fend Off Monkey Menace at BWF World Badminton Championships 2026 in New Delhi

NEW DELHI: As the Badminton World Championships 2026 prepare to kick off next week in New Delhi, organisers are taking extraordinary measures to ensure the event runs smoothly, including deploying a team of three men whose unique job is to mimic the sounds of langurs. This unusual tactic aims to keep mischievous rhesus macaques away from the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the prestigious venue for the tournament. BWF World Championships 2026: BAI Asserts Revamped Indira Gandhi Stadium Will Put India Open Fiasco Behind.

The 30th edition of badminton's premier global event is scheduled to run from August 17 to 23, 2026. The decision to employ 'monkey whisperers' comes in the wake of an unwelcome intrusion earlier this year when a rhesus macaque was spotted at the India Open, causing concerns about venue security and player concentration. This incident, along with other issues like bird droppings interrupting a match between HS Prannoy and Loh Kean Yew, raised questions about stadium preparedness.

The Unconventional Deterrent

Recognising the deep-seated fear rhesus macaques have of their larger counterparts, the langurs, authorities have opted for a vocal deterrent. The specially trained individuals will replicate the grunts and hoots of langurs, creating an auditory perimeter around the stadium. One of the men employed for this task, Zafar, confirmed the effectiveness of the method. “Monkeys are very afraid of langurs, which are much bigger than them, so when we make these sounds, monkeys usually flee.” he was quoted as saying by Sportstar.

He added that his team has successfully implemented this strategy in various government buildings across Delhi, including the South and North Blocks, and in Gurgaon. How Virat Kohli's Conversation Sparked PV Sindhu's Japan Open 2026 Title Win.

This isn't the first time such an innovative approach has been used in India's capital. Similar tactics, including langur mimicry and life-size langur cutouts, were employed in 2023 to manage the monkey population around venues during the G20 summit.

VIDEO: Man Imitates Langur Calls

Beyond the Calls: Comprehensive Animal Control

While the langur mimics are drawing headlines, organisers have also implemented a range of other animal control measures to secure the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. These include sealing vents, replacing wooden doors with a double-door entry system, and applying a non-toxic gel (typically used for railway wiring) around stadium ducting. Portable machines mimicking predatory bird sounds have also been installed to deter pigeons, which, along with monkeys, caused issues during the India Open, notably interrupting a match between HS Prannoy and Loh Kean Yew due to bird droppings.

India is hosting the BWF World Championships for the first time since 2009, a significant event highlighting the nation's growing prominence in international badminton. With top shuttlers from around the globe set to descend upon New Delhi, organisers are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the focus remains squarely on the world-class competition, free from any simian interruptions.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2026 10:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).