Dealing with monkeys at temples and sites they stole my snack how do I protect my stuff
A monkey snatched a snack right out of my hand at a temple and I have heard they grab phones sunglasses water bottles even bags at places like the cultural triangle sites and Dambulla How do I deal with the monkeys without getting bitten or robbed what attracts them what should I hide or not carry are they dangerous and how do I behave around a troop I love seeing them but want to keep my stuff and my fingers Guides and travellers who have run the monkey gauntlet please advise
4 Answers from travellers
Naturalist guide so the monkey survival guide The cast you meet the bold ones are mainly the toque macaques (the cheeky reddish capped ones) and the grey langurs at the temples and sites the macaques are the practised thieves around Dambulla the cultural triangle Sigiriya the temples and anywhere tourists carry food they are clever fast and fearless What attracts them FOOD above all visible food a snack a water bottle a plastic bag (they associate bags and rustling with food) shiny grabbable things sunglasses phones held loosely they target what looks easy and edible How to protect your stuff do NOT carry visible food or eat in front of them keep snacks sealed deep in a zipped bag (a daypack zipped not a tote) hold your phone and sunglasses securely or stowed when a troop is near do not dangle a water bottle in hand if a monkey approaches do not tease provoke or try to feed it (feeding is how they got bold and it is harmful) How to behave do not make direct prolonged eye contact (a threat to them) do not bare your teeth (a threat) do not run or scream which excites them stay calm keep your distance give them space and walk on if one gets bold back away calmly and protect your bag do not try to snatch back a stolen item a chasing tug of war can get you bitten Are they dangerous mostly they are thieves not attackers but they CAN bite or scratch if cornered provoked or fought over food and a bite means the rabies post exposure protocol (the health threads see a doctor promptly) so the real risk is a bite from a provoked animal hence keep calm and keep distance The site routine arrive with no visible food phone and sunglasses secured bag zipped and worn on the front in the worst spots stay calm around the troop never feed or tease and enjoy watching them from a respectful distance do that and you keep your snack your sunglasses and your fingers
No visible food bag zipped and worn on the front phone secured and never tease or chase a thief back this is the gauntlet plan I needed the do not bare teeth or run because it reads as a threat is a detail I would have got wrong thank you
Watched a macaque take a whole bag of crisps from someone who tried to shoo it with food in hand the lesson is the food is the magnet remove the food and you remove the problem they lose interest fast
At the hotel too close the windows and balcony doors the macaques will come in and raid a room for fruit and snacks if you leave it open we lost a fruit bowl learned to lock up like the guide says
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