Dealing with aggressive monkeys at temples?
We are visiting Dambulla and Polonnaruwa with kids. I heard the macaques can be aggressive. How do we avoid getting bitten?
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5 Answers from travellers
Rule #1: NEVER carry food or plastic rustling bags visibly. Monkeys associate plastic bags with food. Put everything inside a zipped backpack. Rule #2: Do not make eye contact or smile showing teeth (they see teeth as a threat). If they approach, just keep walking confidently.
Carry a small stick or umbrella. You don't need to hit them; just tapping it on the ground usually keeps them at a distance.
Also, do not carry lotus flowers if you intend to offer them at the shrine. The monkeys will snatch the flowers right out of your hands to eat the petals. Keep them hidden until you are inside.
If a monkey grabs your bag or water bottle, LET IT GO. Do not play tug-of-war. That is how you get bitten.
This is super helpful. No plastic bags, no smiling at them, and carry a stick. Got it!
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