
Between reminiscence..
"Bonnet Macaque"
I framed this image during my recent visit to a "holy" place (a hill) called Shivaganga, less than 45 mins drive from my place, and more than an hour and a half long hike to the top of the hill from the bottom (1,368 m high). The hill gets its name because it appears like Shiva-lingam when seen from a distance, and a small stream locally named "Ganga" used to flow / flows alongside the hill.
Also, when it is seen from another side, it looks like "Nandi"; another hindu god (a bull that's worshipped). Find more info. on the place here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivagange
Bonnet Macaques can be found in large numbers all over the hill, and they are very mischievous when hungry. They readily snatch whatever people carry with them, or at least they try to. One should be careful of their belongings while walking in their territory. They mostly look for food from the visitors to the hill, and aren't dangerous normally.
The bonnet macaque is a macaque endemic to southern India. Its distribution is limited by the Indian Ocean on three sides and the Godavari and Tapti Rivers along with a related competing species of rhesus macaque in the north. Land use changes in last few decades have resulted in changes in its distribution boundaries with the rhesus macaque, raising concern for its status in the wild.
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