Archive · 4 Aug 2025
Monkey Extortion: Temples Become Scene of Snatch, Wait, Trade
Imagine you're at a temple, and a sneaky monkey snatches your phone.
That's a common problem in some places!
These monkeys know what things are valuable, so they grab them and won't give them back unless you give them food.
It's like they're running a little business!
In India, people often feed monkeys because they see them as holy animals.
However, in places where people don't feed the monkeys, the monkeys don't try to steal things.
It's all about how we treat them and whether we give them what they want!
Monkeys in some temples and tourist locations are known for snatching items and trading them for food.
This behavior is seen in places like India and Bali, where monkeys target valuables like phones and bags.
Monkeys seem to understand the value of the items, demanding food for their return.
Feeding monkeys, especially in India, blurs the line between humans and primates and contributes to this behavior.
In areas where monkeys are not fed, such as Sri Lanka's Yala National Park, they don't exhibit the same aggressive behavior.
- Who
- Monkeys and the people visiting temples or tourist locations.
- What
- Monkeys in certain temples and tourist locations are snatching valuables from people and trading them for food.
- When
- The behavior is ongoing, as mentioned in the provided articles.
- Where
- Observed in temples in India and Bali's Uluwatu Temple, as well as Sri Lanka.
- Why
- Monkeys engage in this behavior due to learned interactions with humans who offer food, treating it like an extortion racket. Feeding monkeys encourages this behavior.
Human Interaction
Monkey Behavior
Feeding vs. Non-Feeding
Human Interaction
In some cultures, such as India, feeding monkeys is seen as an act of devotion, but this can enable unwanted behaviors.
Monkey Behavior
In other locations like Yala National Park, where monkeys are not fed, they do not exhibit aggressive behaviors.
- Locations of monkey extortion
- Shri Radhavallabh Lal Ji Temple, Bhairavnath temple, Uluwatu Temple (Bali), Yala National Park (Sri Lanka)
- Items snatched
- Phones, sling bags, sunglasses, hats, slippers, food
- Trading Currency
- Food items like Frooti or other snacks
- Monkey's understanding
- Monkeys target valuables that force people to bribe them