My first encounter with this Macaque was in the village of Parambikulam on which name Parambikulam Tiger Reserve exists in the State of Kerala just adjacent to Top Slip area of the Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary also known as Indira Gandhi Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu.

It is also known as Zati and is very sociable. They co-exist with the grey langurs without any competition. They feed on fruits, nuts, flowers and invertebrates. They also on the look out for the food from human beings. Hence they are found sitting on the roadside and waiting for the vehicle to slow down and offer them food.

They are comfortable on trees as well as on the ground. As we humans have encroached into their area they have started living near the human settlements for their basic necessities. During my journey in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, I happen to see them at a number of places.

Image taken on 25th November 2018 at Parambikulam in Kerala.

About Vinod Goel

He joined Customs & Central Excise service in 1982. As a civil servant, his job takes him to various parts of India, which gave him an opportunity to capture our wild heritage, through his camera. His passion for wildlife photography started in 2004 when he was posted at Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and this passion continues till today.