The Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve and temple complex in Ubud, Bali. Its full name as written on a
welcome sign is the Padangtegal Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana Sacred Monkey
Forest Sanctuary. The complex houses approximately 605 Crab-eating Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) monkeys
(39 adult males, 38 male sub adult, 194 adult females, 243 juvenile and 91
infants —2011—). There are four groups of monkeys each occupying
different territories in the park. The Sacred Monkey Forest is a popular
tourist attraction inUbud, and is often visited by over 10,000 tourists a month. The forest
comprises approximately a tenth of a square kilometer (approximately 10ha or 27
acres) and contains at least 115 different species of trees. The Monkey Forest contains the Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegaltemple as well as a "Holy
Spring" bathing temple and another temple used for cremation ceremonies. The Monkey Forest is owned
by the village of Padangtegal,
and village members serve on the Monkey Forest's governing council. The
Padangtegal Wenara Wana Foundation manages the Monkey Forest and serves to
maintain its sacred integrity and to promote the sacred site as a destination
for visitors.
The forest has been populated by
monkeys in greater numbers than an environment undisturbed by humans would
allow for a number of years, with the population density now (2013) higher than
ever. The visitor will notice the interesting phenomenon of numerous obese
monkeys, a testament to the almost unbounded food supply the huge number of
tourists entering in and near the forest provide. Tourists are bitten by
monkeys daily and numerous of these attacks can be can be found by a key word
searches on YouTube. The monkeys - crab eating macaques - will invariably
approach human visitors in a large group and then grab any bags containing
food. They may also grab bags not containing food. If the demanded food is
readily provided the monkeys will usually not, although occasionally will, bite
the human owner. If the demanded food is not provided quickly enough, one or
more of the monkeys will certainly bite the human owner. Numerous bites occur
because humans are not quick enough in producing a desired food item. Given
that tourists don't enter and travel the monkey forest armed and ready to fight
relatively small monkeys, and that dogs are not allowed inside, the monkeys
have none of the normal environmental competitors to keep them in check. They
have also lost the fear of humans normal to almost all animals.
Monkey bites are a very serious
medical event given the variety of viruses monkeys carry that can be
transferred to humans. For example, Herpes B virus is very prevalent in crab eating
macaques, should be assumed to be very prevalent in the populations in Ubud
Monkey Forest, and frequently causes death in humans. Given their apparently
increasing aggressiveness, and the risk they pose to human health, there have
been calls by Balinese politicians for a cull of macaques in Bali. These calls
have not been formally accepted by authorities.
In Monkey Forest Ubud we can walk
around and enjoy the quiet atmosphere around the park. The forest consists of
approximately one-tenth of a square kilometer (approximately 27 acres) of land
and has at least 115 species of trees. In the Ubud Monkey Forest are Pura Pura
Dalem Agung Padangtegal and Madia Mandala, where there is a sacred pool and
other temple used for cremation ceremonies.
And for the etrance ticket to Monkey Forest only Rp 20,000 / person.
