‘Monkey attacks,’ dubbed as ‘devil monkeys,’ have been reported in Thailand, Japan, and India, sparking concerns about the behavior of our primate cousins. Despite the captivating appeal of primates in wildlife tourism due to their human-like faces and entertaining antics, recent stories highlight a darker side.
Various monkey species, such as long-tailed macaques and pig-tailed macaques in Thailand, Japanese macaques in Japan, and Hanuman langurs in India, have been involved in these reported attacks. The common thread appears to be “over-habituation,” where monkeys lose their natural fear of humans due to association with readily available human food, leading them to become a nuisance.
The primary driver for these incidents is the offering of human food, which is irresistible to wildlife. Monkeys, being intelligent and resourceful, learn to harass tourists for food. Some have even mastered the art of “trading,” stealing valuable items like mobile phones and exchanging them for food.
While not every person bitten or threatened by a monkey is intentionally feeding them, the problem arises from the animals associating tourists with food. Monkeys, with their long memory and ability to learn from each other, may become adept at manipulating tourists for their benefit.
Tourists often lack awareness of primate body language, facial expressions, and vocalization, leading to dangerous misunderstandings. To enhance safety and responsibility during wildlife tourism, it’s essential for tourists to follow some guidelines:
Maintain a safe distance of seven meters (23 feet) from animals to avoid them feeling threatened and reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Avoid standing between animals and their route to safety or between adults and young.
Refrain from direct eye contact or showing teeth, as monkeys may perceive this as aggressive.
Recognize threatening behaviors, such as bared teeth, direct stares, or short lunges, and quietly back away if observed.
Do not feed the monkeys.
While wildlife tourism significantly contributes to the global economy and provides benefits to both wildlife and local communities, responsible tourism is crucial to ensuring the sustainability of these positive impacts.
