Seventy-nine-year-old Shyam Sadhu of India has been feeding almost 100 monkeys per day for the past 40 years. He feels a calling to help animals, especially monkeys, which are considered descendants of the Hindu god Hanuman.
Sadhu doesn’t get paid for his work. When he first began feeding the monkeys, his wife disapproved. To keep his activity a secret, he stole bread to feed to them. However, his wife eventually grew to see his activity as “a noble deed” and now assists with the daily feeding.
In addition to receiving his wife’s help, Sadhu receives donations from supporters. The contributions are enough to cover a small helping of food for the monkeys each day.
Sadhu’s dedication to the animals means that feeding them occurs rain or shine, and even when he’s sick. His work isn’t without risks, either — he says that if a baby gets trapped under him, the rest of the monkeys will flock around him and try to harm him in its defense. After taking the time to earn the monkeys’ trust, however, Sadhu and his wife feel safe with their primate friends — who undoubtedly appreciate their compassion.
