Monkeys at Bali’s Uluwatu Temple are stealing tourists’ valuables, including smartphones and wallets, to exchange for food. This behavior has become a point of contention for tourists and researchers alike, with some calling it a ‘scam.’ The monkeys, known as long-tailed macaques, demonstrate an ability to differentiate between high-value items such as phones and less valuable objects such as hats or hair clips.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the temple, which dates back to the 10th or 11th century, is home to approximately 600 macaques. Many locals view these primates as sacred guardians of the temple, which overlooks the Indian Ocean. However, the monkeys’ thefts have raised concerns about the intersection of cultural reverence and modern tourism. Monkey handlers, referred to as ‘pawang,’ often offer food in exchange for the stolen items, a practice that has been reported for decades.
The situation at Uluwatu Temple reflects a broader challenge in managing wildlife and tourism in sacred sites. Researchers note that the monkeys exhibit ‘unprecedented economic decision-making processes,’ suggesting a level of sophistication in their interactions with humans. Efforts by the temple to address the issue, such as changing feeding schedules, have so far failed to curb the monkeys’ behavior. Some tourists have taken the thefts personally, with one visitor describing the experience as ‘like a criminal enterprise of monkeys.’
Similar incidents have been reported elsewhere, such as in South Carolina, where rhesus macaques escaped a testing facility and caused concern among residents. While the monkeys at Uluwatu Temple remain an iconic symbol of Bali’s cultural landscape, their actions underscore the complexities of managing wildlife in areas where human activity is deeply intertwined with religious and environmental practices.