Cute, anthropomorphic, mischievous, scary – whatever your take on monkeys, you are likely to find them in many parts of Southeast Asia. His antics are nice to watch and make great subjects for social media snapshots, assuming they haven’t stolen his camera by then.
Monkeys come in many types and sizes, and macaques (Macaca) are one of the most common types that you are likely to come across. Orangutans, gibbons, proboscis monkeys, and langurs are also found around the region in more remote locations.
Regardless of how tame and accustomed tourists may appear, monkeys must be approached with caution. These creatures can be devilishly devious, in ways that are not immediately apparent to the untrained eye.
How monkeys behave
Monkeys are extremely curious and can be intrigued by something they are wearing. Most encounters are peaceful, so don’t panic if one decides to befriend. Immediately let go of whatever they grab, or better yet, don’t present easy targets like hanging the camera straps in the first place.
Monkeys have an impeccable sense of smell and will even detect unopened food. That granola bar in your backpack may seem harmless, but any monkey in the area will know it’s there.
The jumpsuits can even be mounted on your shoulders. If that happens, don’t panic and don’t catch up with the monkey, it will jump up when it’s ready.
Monkeys may decide to rummage through bags that are left unattended. More than one tourist has come from a bathroom to find the contents of his backpack scattered all over the beach. Yes, monkeys know how to work with zippers.
If you see monkeys showing teeth, keep your distance; that’s a sign of aggression, not friendship.
How to deal with monkeys
Monkeys are endemic throughout Southeast Asia; large populations of macaques live alongside humans in places like Ubud and Pura Luhur Uluwatu in Bali; Angkor National Park in Siem Reap, Cambodia; Krabi, Thailand; and the Batu Caves in Malaysia.
The macaque lords of Ubud’s Monkey Forest, in particular, aren’t shy about showing visitors who’s boss.
- Avoid smiling at them. For monkeys, showing teeth is a sign of threat and aggression. A misunderstood smile can provoke an unnecessary attack. And when a monkey smiles at you, immediately back off.
- Don’t play tug of war. The main reason monkeys bite tourists is because they don’t drop something that a monkey has grabbed. Camera straps, backpacks, and water bottles are great temptations. Let go as soon as a monkey grabs something, they’ll likely examine it and drop it anyway.
- Don’t offer food. Having food around monkeys is a bad idea anyway, but feeding one will attract many more who may take your refusal to feed them as a sign of attack.
- Show no fear. Monkey clans generally follow a well-established caste system with larger males being alpha. If a monkey acts particularly aggressive, stand your ground, wave your arms, or grab a stick if one is available. If you must retreat, back off slowly while still in front of the monkey; Running or showing fear will increase their confidence rather than make them back off.
- Be careful when taking photos. A monkey that sees its own reflection in the lens of its SLR camera can unleash an attack. Tourists have been targeted for taking selfies with primates.
Monkey bite treatment
A monkey bite, no matter how trivial, can quickly become dangerous. Monkeys are regular carriers of rabies; Even those without rabies can create dangerous infections and fevers thanks to the high level of bacteria in the mouth.
Monkey bites should be washed immediately with soap and clean water for fifteen minutes. Seek help from a doctor who will likely start antibiotics and can suggest anti-rabies measures. You have few options, rabies has no early symptoms, and is fatal if not treated right away. (More information here: 10 facts about rabies).
Any bite or scratch requires immediate medical attention.
