The rhesus macaques gather near the entrance, where visitors’ bags are searched and food discarded. Brij Bhushan, head of the Taj Mahal security force, said the animals were frightened by officers brandishing the slingshots.

“We found that monkeys get scared by just seeing us brandishing these slingshots,” he told Reuters.

An estimated 500-700 macaques live around the monument, with experts blaming the expansion of Agra for encroaching on their habitat and making them more aggressive.

In November, a monkey reportedly snatched a 12-day-old boy from his mother outside Agra and killed him.

Guards have been instructed to scare the animals away rather than attack them. The Taj Mahal receives around 25,000 visitors a day, rising to 80,000 during peak season.