06 August,2026 08:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Illustration/Uday Mohite
A grey langur that had sparked panic at Bhavan's College in Andheri West last year after allegedly attacking several people has finally been captured again by the NGO RAWW and the forest department near the Andheri RTO following months of failed trapping attempts.
The forest department said it had information that people had even been feeding it soft drinks and liquor. "We plan to collect blood samples from the animal to check for traces of alcohol. There is a possibility that the animal's aggressive behaviour may have been influenced by the consumption of such substances," the official said.
The langur after being captured in the wee hours of Wednesday
People behind the rescue said the same male langur had been repeatedly charging at pedestrians and motorists in the area, raising concerns over public safety. Honorary Wildlife Warden of Mumbai City, Pawan Sharma, told mid-day that the primate was captured around 12.30 am on Wednesday by a wildlife rescue team from the NGO RAWW, in coordination with the Mumbai Range of the Thane Territorial Wing of the Maharashtra Forest Department.
Langur seen with the differently-abled man. PICS COURTESY/RAWW
Sharma confirmed that this was the same langur that had been rescued from Bhavan's College last year after it allegedly charged at several people on the campus before reappearing in Andheri in recent months. Over the past two to three months, the langur is believed to have attacked around 15 people. While several people sustained injuries, none were reported to be serious.
RAWW volunteers with the trapped grey langur. PICS COURTESY/RAWW
A forest department official said, "We have received information that some individuals would feed the langur cold drinks and even liquor. We plan to collect blood samples from the animal to check for traces of alcohol. If locals' claims are true, there is a possibility that the animal's aggressive behaviour may have been influenced by the consumption of such substances."
Explaining the animal's behaviour, Sharma said solitary grey langurs are often dispersed males searching for new territories or individuals driven away after losing territorial conflicts and rejected by other troops. In natural forests, such animals often fall prey to predators like leopards. However, in urban areas, where food is easily available and there are no natural predators, they continue to survive around human settlements. The adult male captured is believed to have become isolated from its troop.
The trapping operation was led by wildlife rescuers Joaquim Nayak and Aman Singh, with assistance from Rahul Panchal and Sahil Savadia. According to Sharma, the team was assigned after multiple rescue attempts by the forest department and other wildlife rescue organisations over the past three months failed to secure the animal. A trap cage had also been installed in the area for several weeks, but without success.
Forest department sources said the langur had been frequently seen near a differently abled man who is believed to have been feeding it. Officials said the animal would allegedly turn aggressive and charge at anyone who tried to approach the man.
