Straits Times Forum 23 Oct 13;
MY FAMILY has been living in a small landed property on the fringe of one of the reservoirs for about 35 years, enjoying the tranquil and refreshing environment.
However, for the last seven years, we have become virtual prisoners in our own home because of the invasion of wild monkeys in our neighbourhood.
We are forced to shut all windows and doors to keep them out; window grilles are no good as the smaller monkeys can still squeeze in.
We have no choice but to leave our house in the morning and return only at night, when these animals go back to their forest abodes.
Monkeys have also made a mess of our neighbours' homes - they rummage through wardrobes, scatter clean clothes, scamper over beds and raid the fridge.
The animals are even bold enough to snatch plastic bags from the hands of passers-by and physically attack people.
The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society has suggested keeping our food out of sight. But this does not work as the monkeys are able to open the doors of fridges and cabinets.
Chasing them out of our homes is dangerous as they bare their teeth threateningly when confronted. Also, government agencies like the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority have advised us not to confront or make eye contact with them, much less chase them.
Wild monkeys are now used to living among humans and find it easier to forage for food in human communities than in the jungles where they belong. Animal lovers also feed them.
Perhaps, like in Hong Kong, more fruit trees can be planted in the jungles to encourage the animals to remain there. But this is not a good solution as the monkeys do not have natural predators to keep their numbers under control.
They should not be allowed to invade human living space. We are not blood-thirsty and do not approve of culling wild animals for no reason. But when there is a clash between humans and wild animals, culling seems to be the only answer, and this is an accepted practice internationally.
Although the Government did cull quite a number of wild monkeys recently, we still see a good number of them roaming around our estate.
Do we need someone to get badly mauled by wild monkeys before doing something?
Han Cheng Fong
