Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CHEEKY MACAQUES
That sign at Bako National Park's campground - 'Naughty monkeys around - watch out!' - is not a joke. The
long-tailed macaques that hang about the park HQ are great to watch, but they are mischievous and cunning - an
attitude fostered by tourists who insist on offering them food. The monkeys (and some tourists) are opportunists,
and they will make running leaps at anything potentially edible they think they can carry off. Keep your room's
doors and windows closed, zip your bags and do not leave valuables, food or drink - or anything in a plastic bag
(known by macaques as the preferred human repositories for edibles) - unattended, especially on the beaches or
on the chalet verandahs.
It's wise to leave the monkeys in peace - the males can be aggressive, and once you've seen a macaque tear
open a drink can with his teeth you'll be happy that you didn't mess with them. Rangers advise against looking a
macaque in the eye (he'll think you're about to attack) or screaming (if he knows you're scared, he'll be more ag-
gressive). Recently, especially aggressive large males have been tranquillised, captured and released far, far away.
Monkeys are not a problem after dark.
