BEIJING: China’s air force has called monkeys and falcons into service to ensure safe skies for a huge military parade this week to mark Japan’s defeat in World War II, reports said.

Almost 200 aircraft will take part on Thursday in commemorations for the 70th anniversary of what Beijing calls the “Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War”.

The animals have been deployed at an air force base involved in the parade, which officer Wang Mingzhi said was in a bird migration corridor — with 400 to 500 species present — potentially affecting aircraft safety.

Pictures on news portal Sina showed a macaque on a red leash standing on its hind legs and mimicking the salute of an officer in a camouflage uniform beside it.

The monkeys had “mastered” the skills to destroy bird nests, Wang was quoted as saying.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2015

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