Animals and Medicinal Plants

Arunachala Hill abounds in medicinal plants and herbs. Practitioners of traditional Indian medicine roam about the slopes of Arunachala in search of herbs and leaves. It is interesting to watch the monkeys' behaviour and habits. One can watch groups of them, particularly during the evening, gather round certain plants and munch their leaves and seeds. The elders of the monkey family coax the youngsters of their group, sometimes by administering physical rebukes, into consuming the leaves. Other animals too possess intuitive knowledge about local herbs and their use.