Normally, monkeys on Bali island will receive snacks brought by tourists such as bananas, peanuts,... However, the pandemic has made their food sources limited, this is the reason why hungry monkeys have come to the homes of people in villages in Sangeh to look for food.
Sangeh residents said the monkeys had ventured from a forest reserve about 500 meters away, running on rooftops and waiting for the right moment to swoop down and grab a snack.
Fearing more frequent attacks, residents have taken to bringing fruits, peanuts and other treats to the Sangeh Monkey Forest to appease them.
Saskara Gustu Alit, a villager, said: "We fear that the hungry monkeys will become rough and aggressive."
About 600 of the monkeys, who live in a protected forest, swing from nutmeg trees and leap toward the sacred Pura Bukit Sari temple. The forest, located in the southeast of the island, is a popular spot for locals and tourists to take wedding photos. The tame monkeys may befriend visitors by climbing on their shoulders or sitting on their laps for snacks.
Tourism is the main source of income for Bali’s 4 million people, which welcomed more than 5 million foreign visitors a year before the Covid-19 outbreak. Since July this year, Indonesia has banned all foreign tourists from the island and has also closed the reserve. This is the reason why the reserve is facing financial exhaustion, which has also made it extremely difficult to buy food for the monkeys.
