Toque Macaques behavior around the Anuradhapura Sacred City stupas

I lost my water bottle to a large male near the Abhayagiri dagoba. They know exactly how to open zippers on backpacks.

You will get the best photos in the late afternoon around 4 PM. The golden light hits the brickwork of Jetavanaramaya and the monkey troops are very active before they roost in the surrounding ancient trees.

Watch your camera gear! These are the same species featured in the documentary Monkey Kingdom. They are incredibly intelligent and will steal lens caps and sunglasses in a heartbeat.

Historically, monkeys were sometimes seen as protectors of the temple grounds in folklore, though today the archaeological department has to constantly manage them so they do not damage the restored mortar.

Notice their hairstyles. The Toque Macaque gets its name from the whorl of hair on its head that looks like a small brimless hat. The ones in the dry zone of Anuradhapura are a distinct subspecies from the wet zone monkeys.