ERIKA LAU

Every day, thousands of people flock to Batu Caves to marvel at the limestone towers and climb the steps to the temple. And where there are people, there are hungry macaques. Look in almost any direction and you’ll see monkeys rummaging through human leftovers: a half-drunk water bottle, a crumpled nasi lemak wrapper, a stolen packet of crisps. Even more troubling are the vendors selling peanuts and bananas to eager tourists chasing the perfect Instagram photo, despite the bold signs clearly forbidding the feeding of wild animals.

 

Feeding wildlife creates a dangerous cycle of dependency. The macaques begin to associate people with food, which in turn makes them bolder and more aggressive. Before long, they are no longer simply curious animals but opportunists, harassing anyone who might be carrying a snack or who seems easy to intimidate.