Over recent times, some Da Nang people and tourists have still been found feeding monkeys on the Son Tra Peninsula, which resulted in some consequences, including the primates getting used to being fed rather than finding food on their own in the jungle.In a bid to tackle such deeply-concerning issue, the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang tourist beaches are seeking drastic solutions and strengthening coordination with relevant local agencies to resolve it.

The act of feeding monkeys has prompted them to rely on humans for food instead of finding it on their own in the jungle. Photo: https://tienphong.vn

As reported that, a herd of wild monkeys have been frequently spotted gathering and scavenging for food at the area of the Mieu Doi (Double Temples) site, in front of the gate of the Linh Ung Pagoda and near the Intercontinental Resort.

It is concerning that both locals and tourists visiting the peninsula have used candies and fruits, and other types of food to lure these monkeys into a position where they can be photographed.

Till date, the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang tourist beaches have set up warning signs asking visitors not to feed wild animals, along with the operating of patrolling teams to detected and handle violations if any. With the synchronous implementation of many solutions, the number of monkey feeding cases has decreased as compared to before.

According to experts, feeding monkeys creates many negative effects to both animals and humans.

The habit has led to the primates’ decreased ability of seeking food in nature and increased their dependence on people to fill their stomach, which is not really good for their digestive system. Tourists have accidentally changed the survival instinct of the younger generations of monkeys on the Son Tra Peninsula, when mother monkeys taught their children to beg for food from visitors instead of finding things to eat in the woods.

Visitors are making a mistake, not knowing that the monkeys being friendly means they are losing their natural food foraging habit.

Besides, that tourists lure or tease the animal with food also makes them become aggressive, hereby increasingly attacking people.

Such a habit also places the animals at a high risk of road accidents.

In addition to the negative impact on the monkeys, direct contact with wild animals puts humans at the risk of catching such diseases as flu and gingivitis.

In terms of the environmental impacts, litter left by mindless people who feed monkeys pollutes the environment and affects the natural ecosystem.

Tourists are, therefore, recommended to minimize contact with monkeys as well as other types of wild animals and not to feed monkeys for the sake of their health and safety.

Reporting by NHAT HA - Translating by A.THU