Rhesus Macaques sit & groom each other on a Monkey temple rooftop overlooking Jaipur. Most of the city's urban monkeys are Rhesus Macaques who live a life of relative luxury since they are believed by local Hindus to personify Hanuman, the cherished 'Monkey God' who banished evil in the Indian epic Ramayana.  Location: Monkey temple (Galwar Bagh),  Jaipur (The pink city), Rajasthan, India.

179770357

Rhesus Macaques sit & groom each other on a Monkey temple rooftop overlooking Jaipur. Most of the city's urban monkeys are Rhesus Macaques who live a life of relative luxury since they are believed by local Hindus to personify Hanuman, the cherished 'Monkey God' who banished evil in the Indian epic Ramayana. Location: Monkey temple (Galwar Bagh), Jaipur (The pink city), Rajasthan, India.

Photo by: Timothy Allen

Timothy Allen

Monkeys Steal COVID-19 Tests

During the pandemic, these primates in India have taken “Monkey Business” to a whole new level.

May 29, 2020

On Thursday, a group of red-faced rhesus macaques attacked a lab assistant near Meerut Medical College in Delhi and ran away with test samples from potential COVID-19 patients. The monkeys climbed up into trees and chewed on the samples before throwing them back.

In old part of Delhi you have groups of monkeys on the street.

485715626

In old part of Delhi you have groups of monkeys on the street.

Photo by: t-lorien

t-lorien

In old part of Delhi you have groups of monkeys on the street.

Close Call

Initially people were worried that this would cause an outbreak in the area, but the tests were retrieved, and none had been damaged. Meerut Medical College superintendent, Dheeraj Raj stated that, “They were still intact and we don’t think there is any risk of contamination or spread.” However, the patients were retested in order to ensure accurate results.

A family of Rhesus Macaques explore a city landscape. Most of Jaipur's urban monkeys are Rhesus Macaques who live a life of relative luxury since they are believed by local Hindus to personify Hanuman, the cherished 'Monkey God' who banished evil in the Indian epic Ramayana.  Location: Jaipur (The pink city), Rajasthan, India.

179770305

A family of Rhesus Macaques explore a city landscape. Most of Jaipur's urban monkeys are Rhesus Macaques who live a life of relative luxury since they are believed by local Hindus to personify Hanuman, the cherished 'Monkey God' who banished evil in the Indian epic Ramayana.

Photo by: Timothy Allen

Timothy Allen

A family of Rhesus Macaques explore a city landscape. Most of Jaipur's urban monkeys are Rhesus Macaques who live a life of relative luxury since they are believed by local Hindus to personify Hanuman, the cherished 'Monkey God' who banished evil in the Indian epic Ramayana.

Monkeying Around During Lockdown

While this may seem like an event out of a movie, monkeys in India have become bolder during the pandemic. With the country under lockdown, many people who would normally stop and give food to the monkeys while out and about are staying home. Officials have asked the public not to feed the animals in order to minimize the risk of having the virus jump into the species. With a food source suddenly gone, people have reported that food and even cell phones have been stolen from them. It seems that the primates have taken matters (and other people’s belongings) into their own hands.

Next Up

Year in Review: Nature in Focus Adventures

For many years I've looked back on the year in review and thought about all of the incredible adventures I've experienced and this year is no exception.

Photographing Sequoia National Park with a Smartphone

As a photographer, I love giving myself technical limitations.

Great Migrations

Brrrrr it’s getting cold out, the days are shorter and soon it’ll be winter! Fall means that more than 4 billion birds will stream overhead on their fall migration to warmer grounds down south, where they will feed and mate.

The Oldest Complete Fish Fossil was Discovered Thanks to Kung Fu

Back in 2019, three Chinese paleontologists were playfighting during a break from working in the Chongqing Province, China. One was kung-fu kicked into a rocky outcrop, causing rubble to tumble down and exposing an opening in the rock face. Inside, a spectacular fossil lay undisturbed, preserved for millions of years.

Exploring Miniature Worlds

Expansive landscape photographs are my passion, but they are only part of the story. To truly capture the natural world, sometimes simplifying to the smallest details can transform your creative opportunities.

Zoo Miami Tests Gorilla for COVID

Zoo Miami is taking every precaution to protect its gorilla population from COVID-19.

Bronx Zoo Tigers and Lions have Tested Positive for COVID-19

Nadia, as seen on Animal Planet’s THE ZOO, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus along with six other large cats—all are expected to recover, according to zoo officials.

The Truth About COVID-19 and Your Animals

Experts in the medical and veterinary fields help clear up rumors and answer your burning questions about how COVID-19 affects animals.

How COVID-19 Revived the World’s Addiction to Plastic

Surgical masks, gloves, hand sanitizer bottles – all the most sought-after items in the coronavirus pandemic have one thing in common: plastic. So what does this temporary shift to single-use plastics mean for the environment and the world’s anti-plastic pledge?

Latest COVID-19 Ruling is Terrible News for the Planet

Companies do not need to meet environmental standards during the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Agency has said, in a move that could have deadly impacts on the planet.