Monkeys in Thailand. Monkeys in Thailand - so funny and so dangerous! Where can you find monkeys in Thailand?

If you are going to relax somewhere in Southeast Asia, and tourism in general is your hobby, then this article is for you! Often, when looking through information about warm countries, on the Internet you can come across a mention of how, for example, monkeys in Thailand robbed tourists. And that's nothing! After all, primates even manage to bite some exotic lovers. To avoid getting into a similar situation on vacation, let’s learn more about our little brothers...

Cute, human-like, harmful, terrifying - regardless of your opinion about monkeys, you are likely to encounter them when traveling through the countries of Southeast Asia and beyond.

It’s a pleasure to watch the antics of the primates and take stunning photographs of them, so that you can then send them home or make an impressive album upon your return. It will only be possible to do this if these “cuties” did not steal your camera.

Monkeys come in different types and sizes. Among them, the most common species that you are sure to encounter is macaques. In second place are gibbons, with a white mask on the face and a beige-black body.

Also found in large numbers in Southeast Asia are orangutans, langurs, and the proboscis monkey (a Caucasian species in the world of apes).

Where can you find monkeys in Thailand?

In the land of smiles, they live almost everywhere, especially macaques. In the provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi, for example, they even know how to dive, while catching clams, sea crabs and mussels. There is even a special school for macaques on the island of Koh Chang, where they are taught various tricks, including collecting coconuts from palm trees, and then performing daily performances for tourists. On Koh Samui you can also watch monkeys picking coconuts from palm trees on a plantation.

If you are vacationing in Pattaya, then you also have a chance to get to know these “cute” animals better. Indeed, during boat trips, tourists are often taken to the nearby Monkey Island, measuring 24 hectares. There are simply thousands of primates on it and their main food is offerings from tourists. Therefore, when they see another ship or boat, the monkeys run to the shore in anticipation of guests and treats.

On the island of Phuket, you can get acquainted with these animals by climbing Monkey Hill, located between the village of Ang Sila and Saen Beach. Just don’t forget to buy their favorite treat – bananas – along the way.

No matter how tame and good-natured the monkeys seem to tourists, they still need to be approached with caution, follow some simple recommendations and be treated with a healthy dose of skepticism towards their touching faces.

Rules of conduct if there is a monkey next to you:

Don't smile! If you think that “a smile will make everyone brighter,” then this is not the case. With monkeys, the “smile wide and sincere” tactic doesn’t work. For cute humanoid animals, showing teeth is one of the signs of threat and aggression. Conclusion: you shouldn’t smile at a monkey if you don’t want to fight it off or run away.

Don't engage in tug of war. The main reason why tourists are bitten is simple - they did not let go of what the monkey grabbed. Most often, those who grab the limbs of macaques and other primates encroach on camera belts, backpacks, glasses, water bottles, and the like. Professionals recommend that as soon as a monkey grabs something from you, you should let it go and not pick on it. Ideally, if you act this way, the primate will simply examine the captured object and throw it away. But what condition the item will be in after inspection is not specified. Maybe the backpack is not as necessary as you thought?

Don't offer food! Feeding a monkey, for example, chips, a hamburger or a sausage roll is, in any case, a bad idea. But if you offer a banana to one attractive individual from the order of higher mammals, then relatives of this very individual may appear.

And here there are several options for the development of events:

You have enough bananas to pay off and leave quietly.
You don’t have that many bananas, the monkeys are upset, but have lost interest in you - they won’t hit you or bite you.
You don't have that many bananas, the monkeys are upset, and they are not going to accept your refusal... Signal to attack... I hope you run fast?

Don't show your fear. Monkey clans usually follow a caste system, with a large alpha male at the head, with all the ensuing consequences.

Be careful while filming. If a monkey somehow sees its reflection in the lens of your camera, this may provoke it to attack.

Monkey behavior.

Know! Primates are overly curious, so be interested in what’s in your backpack or purse. Most meetings with relatives of Grandfather Darwin are peaceful, so try not to panic if one of them wants to get to know you or your things better.

Immediately release whatever they grab. Although the best option is to leave no chance for the monkey to grab it! Hide everything that dangles ahead of time, and the belts, first of all.

Monkeys have an ideal sense of smell and will detect even unopened food, so you won’t be surprised if you, and most likely the Snickers in your backpack, make a splash among the “local population.”

In some places, macaques may even jump on your shoulders without permission. Don't panic and don't try to drive it away yourself - the monkey will jump off as soon as it's ready.

In places with large monkey populations, apparently due to high competition, local primates may decide to rummage through your belongings, bags, backpacks or sacks left unattended.

Watch out! Because once, after swimming to your heart’s content, you can go out to the beach and collect your things for a long, long time. And why all? Monkeys can work with lightning!

Monkey bite.

A monkey bite, no matter how trivial, can very quickly turn into a dangerous precedent.

For example, monkeys are a traditional carrier of rabies, and those that do not have it can be carriers of other equally dangerous infections (measles, tuberculosis, polio, fever, etc.), due to the high level of bacteria in the mouth.

If you are bitten, each victim must be examined by a doctor and you will most likely have to endure a series of painful and expensive rabies vaccinations.

Moreover, in this case, you, in principle, have no choice: rabies has no early symptoms, and the disease can result in death if not treated immediately.

Are you scared? That's how it was intended.

What to do if a monkey behaves aggressively?

If the monkey acts particularly aggressively, you need to stand your ground: wave your arms, or take a stick if you have one. In general, show “who is the real man here.”

If you are forced to retreat (an aggressive monkey has more goods), then move slowly, without haste: running or another manifestation of fear will force them to attack rather than retreat.

What to do if you are nevertheless bitten by a monkey.

The bite should be immediately washed with clean water and treated with iodine or another antiseptic. Preferably within 15 minutes.

Then immediately seek help from a doctor, who will begin treating you with antibiotics and also suggest measures to combat rabies.

These are the simple rules of behavior!

Compliance with all the above rules will allow the monkeys to be remembered by you as the cute little animals “in the photo” and leave a good impression of your vacation!

Almost every tourist can see a monkey while on vacation in Thailand. In addition to being found in zoos, they are quite common in the wild. Popular resorts have special places where you can see the natural habitat of monkeys and communicate with them as closely as possible. However, when interacting with them, safety precautions should be observed.

Despite the fact that Thailand is a tropical country, there are not so many species of monkeys in it. While vacationing at popular resorts, tourists can see macaques or gibbons. The jungle is also home to orangutans and langurs. It is unlikely that you will be able to meet them, since they spend most of their time on the upper tiers of trees and do not make contact with people.

Gibbons

These are quite calm monkeys; very often the local population uses them as pets. Their body is colored brown, sometimes even close to black. If you look at the face, it seems as if a mask was put on the gibbon. Due to this coloring, the monkeys were nicknamed “Lara”.

Gibbons are very beautiful, with the help of their long limbs they can gracefully move between trees and perform various acrobatics. Recently, gibbons have been the target of many poachers. As a result, special rehabilitation centers were created whose goal is to return animals to their natural habitat.

Macaques

As for macaques, they are generally found everywhere and have already managed to gain the status of “swindlers” who are constantly trying to beg or steal something from passers-by. They live on the lower tiers of woody vegetation, which are most often used for sleeping.

Macaques descend to the ground for food. They feed on mollusks and crustaceans, which is why most monkeys are found closer to water bodies. Macaques can not only move well among trees, but also feel confident in the water.

Monkey Island

Tourists on vacation in Pattaya can visit Monkey Island. It is a piece of land of 24 hectares, within which hundreds of primates live. People do not live on the island; most of it is occupied by vegetation. The coastline is no wider than 3 meters.

In the second half of the 20th century, a large number of white-handed gibbons were based on the island. The animals were specially bred by scientists from the States to conduct experiments. After these actions were banned, the monkeys were released into the forests, where they live to this day.

You can visit the island either on your own, having previously rented a boat, or go on an organized excursion tour. The monkeys are already so accustomed to constant visits that they happily welcome new tourists.

Monkey Temple

Geographically, the monkey temple is located in Phan Nga province, adjacent to Phuket. It occupies several caves located in the fissure of the mountain. The largest cave measures 40x20 m, from which you can use stairs to get to smaller grottoes. In the main hall you can see a fifteen-meter statue of a reclining Buddha.

In addition, there are several more Buddha statues, each of them corresponding to a specific day of the week. Monkeys inhabit the mountain itself, but at the same time they are happy to go down to people. In the vicinity of the temple they sell various delicacies for macaques, and you can also bring food for them with you.

Monkey Mountain

It is an ideal place where you can not only interact with macaques, but also enjoy beautiful views of the city. The mountain is located in Phuket Town. A paved road leads to the top, which can be climbed either by vehicle or on foot.

There are three observation platforms with benches and gazebos on the mountain. On one of them there is a small cafe. The main inhabitants of Monkey Mountain are macaques, which roam freely around the area. You can visit this attraction at any time completely free of charge.

Monkey banquet

This event takes place annually on the last Sunday of November. The venue is Phra Prang Sam Yot Temple, which is located 150 km from the Thai capital. The first monkey banquet was held in 1988. On this day a huge table is set. Local residents bring various fruits, the total amount of which amounts to several tons.

About five hundred macaques take part in the banquet. The monkeys eat their fill, then sit on the treetops and throw various banana cores or peels towards tourists. In the evening there is a fascinating show with monkeys under the guidance of experienced trainers.

Are monkeys dangerous?

To say that monkeys are harmless animals is unlikely to work. At first glance, such calm and cute animals can change their attitude towards tourists in a matter of seconds. It is safest to communicate with a well-fed macaque or one that has moved away from the general herd.

A crowd of monkeys can be compared to a gang of gopniks who meet in dark alleys. Being hungry, they stop at nothing and, having spotted a tasty morsel among people, they will definitely get it. They can steal anything; there have been frequent cases of macaques stealing cameras, glasses, or taking valuables out of pockets. And if you can somehow fight off one animal, then in the presence of a crowd all resistance is useless.

If you are planning to go to a place where there are animals, be very careful. The stolen item can be returned only in the first minutes. Remember that force is useless in this situation. For a monkey to agree to give you something, it needs to be offered something in return. A thing that subsequently does not arouse her interest is usually thrown away or broken.

Rules of conduct with monkeys

If you find yourself in the company of primates, there are several rules to follow:

Do not smile under any circumstances. Primates perceive any grin as a sign of aggression and can treat it accordingly.
Frequent bites occur in cases where a person, having offered something to an animal, does not want to let it go. In addition, there are cases when macaques try to take away a belt, a bottle of liquid, glasses or other personal items. Try not to resist, because if your item is not interesting to the animal, it will simply throw it away. Unfortunately, it is impossible to say with certainty what condition this item will be in.
Be very careful if you decide to feed the monkeys. As a rule, primates love bananas, nuts or corn. Do not show the entire bag of food, otherwise it will simply be taken away. Monkeys do not stand on ceremony in this matter. Do not tease animals or try to call them close to pass food from hand to hand.
Don't show your fear. During filming, try not to show the macaques their image in the lens, otherwise this may be a signal for an attack.

What to do if bitten by a monkey?

I would like to immediately note that a monkey bite does not bode well. Primates are carriers of many diseases, including rabies, measles, fever, tuberculosis and others. Their mouths contain high levels of infections that cause blood poisoning.

If you or your child are bitten or scratched by a monkey, you should immediately consult a doctor. This should not be ignored, as the consequences can be very dire. In most cases, a specialist prescribes a set of rabies vaccinations. You won’t have much of a choice, since this disease is not characterized by early signs, and if everything is left to chance, it can be fatal.

When communicating with primates, always follow basic safety rules. Keep a close eye on your children who show a special interest in animals. There are not many cases of monkeys biting tourists, but they do occur.

One of the brightest and most memorable events of the trip is a visit to the island of “wild” monkeys. With the opportunity to let these little human ancestors crawl around, feed them, and give them water from a bottle.

Like all other excursions, this one started just as early. We arrived by bus to the shore, which was far from the most exotic in appearance and condition. While waiting for our boat, I looked around.

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The ants found some piece of meat.
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From afar, a long boat appears with a car engine as a motor. From the outside it was very clear how careless it was to operate a boat using such a unit.

Shore view. There is no sun, it's a bit gloomy.

The engine is closer. Some kind of diesel. Quite noisy. As it turned out later, this is a very common topic in the vastness of this country.

On this boat we were taken to the main ship, on which we set off. During the day we had to visit the island with monkeys, go fishing, go to the beach of another island (for swimming and sunbathing), and dive from a ship in the open sea, if we had time.
So far, everything is just as gloomy. "On the verge of rain."

The captain's cabin and the captain himself.
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Various ship details.
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We are not alone at the island with monkeys. Our ship looks almost identical. fail! This is our ship! 🙂

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There were concerns (from the guide) that in such weather the inhabitants of the island might be too lazy to go ashore even for food. But, as they say, “hunger is no help,” and the monkeys are already waiting.

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We load into the boat again for delivery to the shore. Bring a fruit basket, nuts and water bottles. And away we went. They were clearly waiting for us here :)

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And then reinforcements from the jungle hurried. Freeloaders began to arrive along the ground and along the trees.

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Before landing on the shore, the guide told us how to behave with animals (unfortunately, it is not obvious to many of our compatriots): don’t grab, don’t tease, don’t take away food... Otherwise there will be a squeal, the leader “gloomy tough” © will come and there will be a showdown. So they asked not to provoke. But as soon as we got off, someone immediately managed to distinguish themselves. With the words “oh, there’s one grinning there,” the woman steps aside. And there... 😉

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The conflict was avoided. Although, the leader immediately came and started asking questions 😀 😀

Someone did not wait to be fed and went for bananas on his own. I was choosing something else...

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The monkeys quickly grabbed the fruit. Some climbed the tree, some ate right here.

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It all looked something like this. The monkeys turned out to be very brave. They jumped from trees onto people, took food from people’s hands, and jumped back and forth. Weightless. Although I stayed in the water so that they wouldn’t climb on me (I was filming), but a couple of times I served as a transit point for someone to move in space.

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We settled in well. 🙂

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The nuts were put away for now as a reserve.

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Events developed extremely rapidly. There were fights right there, someone was bitten on the tail and he fell into the water with a squeal, swam out and back onto the tree...

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And someone just posed for me.

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The upper deck looked like this. I slept very comfortably in one of these lounge chairs. Until it started raining, of course. 😉

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What didn't the monkeys eat?

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Thailand is a tropical paradise, home to many beautiful and exotic animals. Of particular interest to tourists are the monkeys in Pattaya, who win hearts with their friendliness and cute appearance. At the resort, in special places, you have the opportunity not only to admire these animals, but also to treat them to something delicious and take a photo as a souvenir. We will tell you where to find monkeys in Pattaya and how to communicate with them correctly in our article.

Monkey Mountain Khao Sam Muk

Not far from Pattaya there is a special mountain that hundreds of monkeys have chosen and live there quite comfortably. You can get to the place yourself by rented transport or by booking a Discovery excursion, the program of which includes a visit to the mountain. Khao Sam Muk is located near the small town of Saen Suk, an hour's drive from Pattaya.

Anyone can visit the mountain at any time of the day absolutely free. Macaques completely populate the entire mountain, so you won’t have to wander around for a long time in search of a monkey. The inhabitants of the mountain are already well accustomed to tourists and gladly accept, and sometimes even take, treats from their hands. Near the mountain there are constantly sellers of baskets with food for monkeys. They mainly sell corn, bananas and other delicacies.

There are several viewing platforms where you can chat with monkeys and take beautiful photos as a souvenir. We advise you not to limit yourself to visiting one mountain. After interacting with the monkeys, you can visit the local Chinese temples at the foot of the mountain, which will amaze you with their beauty. By the way, you can also meet monkeys at the entrance to the temples.

Monkey Island in the Gulf of Thailand

In the Gulf of Thailand there is an unusual Monkey Island, whose official name is Koh Ped or Ling Island. The island received its unofficial name due to its numerous inhabitants - crab-eating macaques. A small oblong piece of land, surrounded by water and covered with impenetrable jungle thickets, is inhabited only by macaques, and there are a huge number of them. That is why this place is so loved by tourists.

According to one version, monkeys appeared on the island in the late 70s. At that time, there were scientists from the US military here who bred white-handed gibbons to conduct experiments on them. But after a few years later experiments of this kind were prohibited, all the animals were released into the wild. Since then, about 2,000 monkeys have lived on the island. During the tourist season, the animals are fed by travelers during excursions, and during the rest of the year this is done by local residents and the Royal Thai Navy. Over the years, the macaques have become so accustomed to their feeders that when they notice a boat approaching on the horizon, they immediately run ashore to greet the guests. The bravest monkeys even rush into the water to be the first to get a treat.

You can get to the island during one of the excursions or on your own by renting a boat from the pier in Pattaya. A visit to Monkey Island is included in the program of such excursions as: , . If you go on your own, don’t forget to bring some treats for the monkeys, which they are really looking forward to. Macaques eat nuts, fruits, bananas, and their favorite treat is watermelon.

How to behave properly around monkeys?

Despite the fact that monkeys are very cute and friendly creatures, do not forget that these are wild animals and you should strictly follow the rules of behavior with them.

First, try not to smile too much when in direct contact with monkeys, as they may mistake your smile for an aggressive grin and react in response.

Secondly, when feeding, immediately release the food from your hands without trying to hold it. Otherwise, the macaque may bite you to get its treat.

Be careful, as animals may take your water bottle, glasses, or other personal items they see from you. Even if something is taken from you, you should not resist; if the thing turns out to be uninteresting to the monkey, he will immediately throw it away.

Do not show the whole bag or basket of treats at once, otherwise the macaques will want to take it away. Don't tease animals or get too close to them. Act calmly and do not show your fear or other strong emotions. And remember, if you are bitten or scratched by a monkey, consult a doctor immediately, as macaques can carry many infections and diseases.

By following these simple rules, you will be able to see with your own eyes what kind of monkeys there are in Pattaya and communicate with them without negative consequences. These cute creatures will forever win your heart and give you a lot of positive impressions.

Pattaya, with all the disadvantages in the form of a dirty sea in the city itself, is still a wonderful place, because literally a few kilometers from Pattaya there are islands with clean beaches with white sand and a clear blue sea. You especially feel this when you get out of your gray winter homeland, you find yourself, like in a fairy tale, in another country, where there is sun, a different language, different smells and colors. Pattaya has become a second home for many Russians. Many of our compatriots come here in winter, as if to a dacha.

And everything is fine here. Pattaya delights with massage parlors, small cafes where you can taste exotic dishes, and shopping streets littered with all sorts of food. Here you can find not very expensive housing and you practically don’t need to know English here. Pattaya has long been a Russian place. But whatever you say, Pattaya is a fairly large city and there is not and cannot be a clean sea in Pattaya itself. Alas, to visit the tropical paradise from the picture you need to go to the islands near Pattaya.

How to make it easier. You can get to the islands on your own or as part of excursions. Fortunately, there are enough islands near Pattaya. And for every taste. You can go to a desert island and enjoy your own personal paradise, or go to a national park on an educational excursion. But it’s easier to cross the sea by ferry and find yourself under palm trees surrounded by monkeys, and in the evening return home to cozy Pattaya.

The closest island near Pattaya is Koh Larn.

Just in case, don’t forget to wear a life jacket on the ferry; after the ferry sank in Pattaya, this is especially important

If you want to go to the island on a speedboat, you need to ask the same people snooping around the pier. The most interesting thing is that over several decades of Russian tourists staying in Pattaya, the Thais have learned to recognize our questioning intonations and therefore the words “Speedboat?” what is said with the appropriate intonation will be quite enough. You will immediately find the right person, usually the boat captain.

Tawaen Beach

You can get here by ferry and it is the most popular beach on the island. Fortunately, it is very large, about 750 meters long and 100 meters wide. There are restaurants, shops with souvenirs, pareos and hats, a first-aid post, and police. Several bungalows. The beach is equipped with sun loungers from 100 baht per person. There are water attractions and the opportunity to rent a scooter. Masseuses walk around and offer their services.

Tien Beach

From the parking lot where you are dropped off, there is a pedestrian bridge leading to the beach. The beach is about 500 meters long. There is all the infrastructure here: cafes and attractions, but not in such abundance as on Ta Waen. Sunbeds are cheaper. Fewer people.

The beach is mostly sandy, but there are also rocks. Strange fish swim around the rocks and reefs. The beach is good for snorkeling and fishing, but be very careful when entering the water.

Samae Beach

Large crowded beach suitable for swimming. The beach is located in a lagoon, so the water is calm and there are no high waves. Snow-white fine sand and clear sea. Very popular among tourists, you can get here by tuk-tuk from the pier. For sunbeds you will pay from 50 baht. There are cafes and attractions.

Monkey Beach (Nual Beach or Monkey Beach)

You won't necessarily see monkeys here. The monkeys do not live on the beach itself, but come from the jungle from the mountain, which is located at the very end of the beach. They can be fed fruit. Monkeys are very persistent and you may no longer see what they like from your things. Be careful. There are sunbeds, the sea is mostly calm.

But the beach next to the mountain where the monkeys live is not very suitable for swimming due to reefs, urchins and concrete structures in the water, along with a sunken ship. If you want, these places will be suitable for snorkeling.

In addition to the beaches, the island has two observation platforms, a statue of the black Buddha, and in the village there is a Buddhist temple open to tourists. You can travel around the island by taxi or rent a motorbike near the pier.