Life with monkeys in Tirupati
The Tirumala hills are home to large numbers of monkeys, and pilgrims on the hills and in the city feed them. That makes them bold and used to people. In neighbourhoods near the foothills, troops move along compound walls, trees and rooftops and come onto houses in search of food.
Common problems:
- fruit, vegetables and flowers taken from terraces and balconies
- kitchen windows pushed open and food taken from inside
- water tank lids lifted or broken
- solar water heater pipes damaged
- clothes pulled off lines and torn
- plants uprooted
Once a troop learns a home has food, it returns.
What a monkey net covers
A monkey net has to close the area completely. If there is a gap at the top or the side, monkeys simply climb around it. We usually net:
- The part of the roof monkeys target, around the water tank, solar heater and clothes line, with a lockable door
- Kitchen windows and utility areas
- Balconies where food or plants are kept
- Open staircases to the roof
Materials
| Part | What we use |
|---|---|
| Net | Heavy-duty UV-stabilised HDPE or nylon, much thicker than a bird net |
| Mesh | Small enough to also stop pigeons |
| Border | Stainless-steel wire rope |
| Anchors | Stainless-steel eye bolts at close spacing |
| Door | Lockable, where access is needed |
On an open Tirupati terrace, the net faces strong sun for months, so UV stability is as important as strength.
How we install
- Watch how monkeys get in: trees, walls, pipes, neighbouring roofs.
- Plan a fully closed enclosure, including the top.
- Fix heavy stainless anchors along the slab, walls and parapet.
- Tension a wire-rope border tightly.
- Lace the net with extra ties at the top edge and corners, where monkeys test first.
- Add a lockable door.
- Pull-test the net at several points.
Keeping it working
Monkeys test new barriers. In the first weeks, check for stretched sections or loose ties, and call us if anything gives. After that, a check every month or two is enough. Keeping food out of sight means they test it less.
Before we come
Tell us where monkeys come in and what they target, and send photos of the roof and kitchen area.
See our main monkey safety nets page and our guide on how to stop monkeys entering your home.
