Thailand Monkeys

Thailand Monkeys

 

March 5, 1999

Macaques

 

A couple hundred monkeys (long-tailed macaques) live on a hill in the town of Prachaup Khiri Khan (which means town among the mountain chain).  Climbing 411 steps (we know cause we counted them) to the top of the “mountain” leads to a wat that provides a great view of the area.  A long, U-shaped beach ends on both the north and south with large, limestone hills that give the bay a “Rio de Janeiro” appearance.  Anyway, during the climb, we saw most of the 200 monkeys.  Although many were at the street on the bottom waiting for handouts, several mother monkeys with small babies were at the top where they feed on frangipani flowers every evening.  City folks feel an obligation to feed the monkeys rice, bananas, melons, etc. because the hill and surrounding area is owned by the Buddhists.  Killing or capturing the monkeys is not allowed, so there are far too many of monkeys for the amount of native, natural monkey food.  

An old nun sat beside her kiosk, where she sells food to visitors to feed the monkeys.  The monkeys know this kiosk is the source of food, so they try to raid whenever possible.  The nun protects the food from the monkeys with a slingshot.  When they wander too close, the nun pulls back on the rubber part and releases it as if shooting a stone.  The monkeys scatter quickly.  Please understand that these are tame monkeys who are not at all intimidated by humans.  So it is apparent that it is not just the sound of the slingshot that scares them.  The old nun must often really use rocks on the monkeys or the slingshot ruse would not be effective.  Just seemed a little odd that a Buddhist official from this faith, that professes to revere nature, would find it necessary to inflict bodily harm to protect a store of the monkeys’ own food.  Apparently, food does not come free, even from a Buddhist nun.

We watched as a fellow drove by on his motor scooter and dropped a plastic bag full of steamed rice for the monkeys.  A small female dashed at the bag and grabbed a handful before a large, dominant male took possession.  As we walked by, the male bared his large, canine teeth at Pat.  Pat understood the not-so-subtle hint and wasted little time putting some space between herself and the monkey.  In the National Parks, we have been advised not to look at the monkeys directly in the eyes, because this little act may cause a monkey attack.  A large monkey can inflict serious injury on a human.

In a chat with the waiter at a local restaurant, he informed me that the monkeys (he called them lings) sometimes become a menace.  He told of feeding a melon to the monkeys.  One monkey grabbed the melon and carried it to the top of the waiter’s auto, broke the melon on the roof and made a bad, sticky mess. 

Maybe living with monkeys is not such a good idea after all.

 

Table of Contents:  https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6813612681836200616/4404749581224177008?hl=en