The popular monkey island in Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City now has a sign asking visitors to watch out for "fierce" monkeys and those that "often snatch visitors' food."
Last month I went there and figured out why this place with usually friendly monkeys had to voice these warnings.
At the parking lot very near the entrance, two visitors held a banana to attract some monkeys and then shot them with stones from a catapult when the monkeys came near.
I complained to a guard sitting nearby and he said: "They were just messing with the monkeys for a bit of fun."
Going further inside, I saw several young men caning the monkeys and chasing after them.
The boys said the monkeys had taken their food, but the authorities had already asked visitors not to bring food.
So, the monkeys didn't become violent or learn the habit of stealing food by chance. The human visitors have made them so by behaving violently. The island guards have made them so by being thoroughly irresponsible.
Never again will the monkeys be friendly to any visitor. They will be hostile even with little children who would not annoy them.
Managers of the island should have instructed their staff more carefully.
And visitors should cooperate. They should only come if they really love the animals, so that their trip will be truly enjoyable.
By Quynh Nhu
