Post by Misereable Monkey on Feb 1, 2008 13:07:28 GMT 7
Feeding monkeys? Fine doubled to $500
Primates in nature reserves are attacking people for food; more visitors also being fined for disobeying law
By Arti Mulchand
FEED the monkeys in the nature reserves and you could find yourself $500 poorer.
The National Parks Board (NParks) has doubled the fine to deter people from giving food to the primates.
The higher fine takes effect today.
NParks has put officers on patrol to catch culprits red-handed, and installed closed-circuit television cameras to act as extra 'eyes'.
The doubling of the fine from $250 follows reports of these monkeys attacking people for food after becoming used to being fed and getting too familiar with humans.
In December, a pregnant housewife and her toddler were set upon by a troop of long-tailed macaques when she pulled out a pancake-filled box from her bag at MacRitchie Reservoir Park.
People have generally paid little heed to signs asking park visitors not to feed the monkeys, and reports about these animals' aggressive behaviour when food is around.
Even the prospect of being fined $250 failed to curb the monkey feeders: Last year, 157 people were fined, up from 142 in 2006.
Monkey feeders who do not pay the fine can be hauled to court, and fined up to $50,000 and jailed up to six months.
The highest fine meted out so far was $4,000, to former zoo worker A. Panneerselvam, who failed to pay the the initial $250 fine.
Monkey feeding not only puts people in danger of the animals' aggressive behaviour but also puts the monkeys at risk.
When food is plentiful, the monkeys multiply.
And instead of hunting for their own food, they stray out of the reserves into residential areas.
When the complaints come, the animals have to be culled.
NParks said it regrets having to get tough.
Its spokesman said: 'We are concerned that if monkey feeding is not curbed, it can result in more serious monkey-nuisance problems that will be difficult to get under control.'
Primates in nature reserves are attacking people for food; more visitors also being fined for disobeying law
By Arti Mulchand
FEED the monkeys in the nature reserves and you could find yourself $500 poorer.
The National Parks Board (NParks) has doubled the fine to deter people from giving food to the primates.
The higher fine takes effect today.
NParks has put officers on patrol to catch culprits red-handed, and installed closed-circuit television cameras to act as extra 'eyes'.
The doubling of the fine from $250 follows reports of these monkeys attacking people for food after becoming used to being fed and getting too familiar with humans.
In December, a pregnant housewife and her toddler were set upon by a troop of long-tailed macaques when she pulled out a pancake-filled box from her bag at MacRitchie Reservoir Park.
People have generally paid little heed to signs asking park visitors not to feed the monkeys, and reports about these animals' aggressive behaviour when food is around.
Even the prospect of being fined $250 failed to curb the monkey feeders: Last year, 157 people were fined, up from 142 in 2006.
Monkey feeders who do not pay the fine can be hauled to court, and fined up to $50,000 and jailed up to six months.
The highest fine meted out so far was $4,000, to former zoo worker A. Panneerselvam, who failed to pay the the initial $250 fine.
Monkey feeding not only puts people in danger of the animals' aggressive behaviour but also puts the monkeys at risk.
When food is plentiful, the monkeys multiply.
And instead of hunting for their own food, they stray out of the reserves into residential areas.
When the complaints come, the animals have to be culled.
NParks said it regrets having to get tough.
Its spokesman said: 'We are concerned that if monkey feeding is not curbed, it can result in more serious monkey-nuisance problems that will be difficult to get under control.'