KASUR: At least three langurs (a group of monkeys native to Indian subcontinent) have been sighted in some villages of the district, creating excitement and fear among locals.

The langurs, according to locals, seen in Khara and Vadana villages, have migrated from Indian side, where these are also called Hanuman langurs, and considered sacred.

As the news about presence of langurs spread, a large number of people gathered in these villages to see them.

The locals said these langurs were seen perched on cellular companies towers, minarets of mosques and upper-most branches of trees.

Some of the locals claim these primates were seen roaming on the roofs of houses in search of food, creating panic among the residents, especially women and children.

They said the langurs did not hurt anyone so far as they mostly stay away from humans.

Some of the locals, including Sakina Bibi, Rehmat Ali and Muhammad, Din told Dawn that langurs had never been seen in these villages before.

Some of the villagers claimed that five langurs were seen in the area.

A wildlife department official claimed that a team had caught one of the langurs that would soon be shifted to a zoo or park where it would kept in a cage.

A few months back, a langur was seen in Kasur city, but wildlife department officials had failed to catch it.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2019