On a recent trip to the forest, I saw many monkeys (presbytis antellus) perched on fruitladen trees. They were all creating a major ruckus and were having a whale of a time. A whole lot of uneaten and partially eaten fruit were being thrown down to the ground or at each other. The monkeys were, well , monkeying around with the fruit. I found the whole process to be amusing in the beginning but then I was also alarmed at the colossal amount of fruit that was being wasted by the monkeys. The monkeys plucked fruit randomly from the trees and most fruit were chucked untasted, they did not eat even one fully. I have always believed that apart from man, all other creatures are quite wise and frugal in utilisation of natural resources. The sheer plunder and wastage that was on demonstration in the forest was striking a jarring note in this otherwise harmonious philosophy.The next morning I reached the same spot only to find that the monkeys had all gone.In their place I observed a huge herd of deer (axis axis) having their choice of the fruit that lay liberally splattered on the ground. And then, in a flash, mother nature’s grand design became crystal clear. Had it not been for the monkeys, the poor deer could never have tasted the mangoes and other fruit which hung high on the tree tops. Clear example of one hand feeding the other !!!