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Monkeys Swim in Ablution Tank at Taj Mahal as Authorities Open Inquiry

Officials say the footage highlights weaknesses in on-site wildlife control and they are verifying when and how the animals accessed the wazu tank.

Overview

  • Viral clips show a troop of monkeys jumping into, swimming across, and splashing inside a wazu — an ablution tank — inside the Taj Mahal complex.
  • Taj Mahal security officials have confirmed the footage does not show the main reflecting pool and said Senior Security Assistant Qalandar has launched an investigation to verify timing and access.
  • Visitors stopped to watch and filmed the animals, and the videos spread widely on social platforms where some users mistakenly identified the tank as the central pool.
  • The incident has renewed public questions about visitor safety and how heritage-site teams manage monkeys, though authorities have not announced any immediate changes to operations.
  • Monkeys are a long‑standing presence around the Taj Mahal and wazu tanks are used for ritual washing, which helps explain the animals' location but also underscores recurring wildlife management challenges.