Do Not Feed The Monkeys is a place for me to archive all my stuff. Use the menu on the left to navigate the site. Alternatively, you could educate yourself as to why it is important Not To Feed The Monkeys.
Please note: Monkeys require nutrition as much as the next man, or monkey. But keep in mind, a monkey with too much food is a walking timebomb. Although there are many good reasons to feed the monkeys, there are also many good reasons not to feed the monkeys.
If you really care about them, you will read on. What follows is fact, so wisen up and be responsible.
Reasons Not To Feed The Monkeys
You will do them more harm than good
People feed monkeys to have a closer look at these fascinating creatures. Some people think the monkeys are starving.
Monkeys are not starving
The monkeys in our wild places have lots of natural food available to them. They have been living in our forests long before people walked the earth! By eating their natural fruits and food, monkeys also help our forest to regenerate and to ensure a balance in the forest.
Monkeys prefer the easy life
Monkeys, however, will prefer easy handouts from humans and will stop looking for food in the forest. They wait along the roads at the forest edges during "feeding time". They rush toward approaching cars and often get knocked down. Since mid-2002, 8300 monkeys have been reported killed on the roads. There may be more not reported.
Monkeys used to being fed
may become a nuisance
Monkeys will also approach humans, especially those carrying plastic bags, which they have learnt to associate with food. Monkeys often try to snatch plastic bags, or food held by small children. As humans try to protect themselves or their children by hitting out at the monkey, the monkey will in turn also retaliate. An ugly incident may develop. Complaints about aggressive monkeys often result. When "bad-mannered" monkeys become a serious nuisance, it may become necessary to trap them.
What happens to trapped monkeys?
Trapped monkeys are put to sleep. They are not translocated to other parts of the Reserve as they are unlikely to be accepted into troops already existing in the forest. All alone, without a group, they are unlikely to survive.
Too many monkeys
Feeding also results in an unnaturally large monkey group size. A normal group of monkeys in the wild usually has 15-30 members. Groups that are fed by humans can be twice as big or more. More monkeys in a group mean more conflicts between monkeys.
How can I save the monkeys?
Leave them alone.