"You little monkeys!" That's something I remember an obviously frustrated Convent school teacher of mine regularly shouting at the children she was charged with teaching Catechism class to. But after observing the behavior of the Hong Kong monkeys whose range includes Shing Mun, Kam Shan and Lion Rock Country Parks, I wish I could reach back across the years and tell that older woman, "News flash (or scoop?): Actually, I really don't see that we children had all that much in common with those (other) primates!"
For one thing, no way were we as maternal as many a female monkey (such as the mother in the photo the top of this week's entry for Sandi's and Gattina's Photo Hunts) can be. For another, I reckon that we human children were a good deal noisier -- individually as well as in when together in a large group -- than the monkeys I've come across while out hiking here in the Big Lychee!
On the subject of large groups: the monkey population here in "Asia's World City" is so substantial that there really are parts of Hong Kong where there are more monkeys than humans. On a personal note, I have to admit to not feeling all that comfortable when on sections of hiking trails where my party (which usually comprises just two or three humans) is outnumbered by monkeys whose "turf" we are passing through. Also, I really hate that there are people here in Hong Kong who still don't seem to realize -- or plain ignore the fact -- that they are doing more harm than good by feeding the monkeys -- and that it actually is against the law to do so.
Indeed, I wish the authorities would seriously clamp down on those lawbreakers, especially those who drive up in their cars and dump out food from there to attract whole hordes of monkeys -- seemingly just for fun. For, frankly, I find them more of a menace to society at large than even the monkeys that they've thereby effectively encouraged to aggressively approach humans with the expectation that they'll be fed by them -- and I sincerely do hope that the children of the human lawbreakers won't grow up and do the same as their parents who aren't setting them good examples at all when it comes to this particular issue.
26 comments:
Interesting post. More monkeys than people? I'd be scared.
lovely takes!
Hi YTSL, love your take on the two themes. That first photo is very sweet. I had no idea that there were so many monkeys there. It looks like the monkeys in your last photo may be waiting for some food. Hopefully, the adult drivers did not give them any thereby teaching their children the meaning of responsibility.
Awesome post. Have a wonderful weekend.
thanks for always coming by for a visit, even though i can't always make my own stop here.
i don't know why the religious call the kids monkey :)
I didn't know about the monkeys in Hong Kong. We have an issue in same neighborhoods with hills (like mine) with wild boars. People keep feeding them although it is forbidden and for good reasons, the population as exploded and they are a serious problem in daily traffic, among other things. Yes, sometimes animals are more sensible and more civilized than us humans! enjoy your weekend. I will be missing the next 3 PHs and will miss the hunters too .
children ::: scoop
We only see monkeys in a zoo, so I can understand that people feed them to see them from close. Their babies are so cute !
Hi ancient one --
Look at the second photo in my entry -- way more monkeys than humans in that one. So... are you scared? ;b
Hi magiceye --
Wouldn't have thought lovely was the word but guess it rocks your boat! ;D
Hi Trekcapri --
Unfortunately, at least a couple of the adult drivers in the last photo did throw out food for the monkeys. Very disappointed but there you have it... :S
Hi ewok1993 --
I appreciate your Photo Hunt entries and also that you do often visit. (There are some Photo Hunters that I have to admit to having stopped visiting though as they never seem to want to come over here! :S)
Hi Mar --
Yikes re your area having a wild boar problem. And as you say, some humans really do lack sense, alas!
Also, noted re your missing the next three Photo Hunts. See you four weeks from now, I hope. :)
Hi Gattina --
I trust you understand but don't condone. It's really not a great feeling to have to be approached by a (large) group of monkeys expecting to be fed when one is on foot in their territory. And like I mentioned, I particularly am annoyed that many of those who do the feeding do it from the safety of their cars.
What a phenomenon to think that the population of monkeys outnumbers humans. Makes you think, doesn't it?
Excellent post.
Here is my link Hope you can find time to visit.
Have a great weekend.
We don't have monkeys here in New England so it would seem very strange to me to see them on the side of the road. Great post.
Great post. I also had teachers that would call us monkeys in elementary school. Feeding wildlife in general often does more harm than good. What annoys me the most where I live is people feeding the water birds at the lake near my house during the seasons where they don't need supplemental food but never going to the lake during the harshest part of winter when it might help them to have a little supplemental food. I never feed the wild birds at the lake but I notice all the people feeding them in the summer and never see anyone do it during the winters when the lake freezes over. Makes no sense to me.
Hi Hootin Anni' --
Only in some areas of Hong Kong... i.e., the country parks I named! (In total, I think there are just around 3,000 monkeys... but over 7 million humans... ;b)
Hi Kara --
It's actually quite rare to see monkeys on the side of the roads here too. But there is one fairly major road on which a bus goes on from which one gets sightings of monkeys as that road passes by the Kowloon Reservoirs and a couple of country parks.
Hi Carver --
There seems to be this idea that monkeys (and schoolchildren) are mischievous creatures...
But re more mischievous people: yeah, I get the feeling that many people who go and feed wildlife do it more for their own amusement than because they really care about the wildlife. So selfish... and sad, to my mind. :S
very interesting post and love the photos.
btw, thank you for the visit,
I would be nervous with the monkeys, even if they are cute. We have the same problem here only with Canadian geese. People think they are being kind feeding them, but it makes them aggressive and then poop everywhere. They also no longer leave for the winter so effects the general environment in negative ways.
Hi ytsl,
Holy monkies!!! Holy whiteness!!! Your photos really pop with the white background.
Hi rainforest --
Thanks for your reciprocal visit -- and happy Photo Hunting to you for weeks and months (and maybe even years!) to come. :)
Hi Sue --
Wow re your information about the Canadian geese. To think that people can change migratory patterns of wild birds to the extent that the environment is noticeably negatively impacted. So sad...
Hi sbk --
I think you are the blog's visitors post design/layout change. Hope you will like it... and yeah, after years of not tinkering with it, I have a feeling I'll be playing around some more with the layout in the next few days or so! ;O
i'm not too fond of monkeys. they can be very aggressive, even if you are not seeking contact with them. btw, i love your new layout. simple, refreshing and loads fast.
You always put so much into your posts... I love it.
Things will be 'magical' next weekend at The Saturday PhotoHunt.
~ Sandi
A very interesting take on the themes :-)
I love your new blog look, it shows off your photos really well.
Hi Life Ramblings --
I think the monkeys you and I are most familiar with (who make the Penang Botanical Gardens and Hong Kong country parks their home) are extra aggressive due to their becoming used to people going and feeding them...
On another note, I'm glad you like my blog's new look. And interesting re the fast loading comment: hadn't realized the older design/layout was a hindrance that way! :)
Hi Sandi --
The Photo Hunts inspire me, I guess... Truly, find the challenges encourage me towards creativity. ;b
Hi Cherry Pie --
I'm glad you find my takes on the themes interesting -- and, also, that you like my blog's new look. :)
Fascinating. No monkeys roam around Australia. Good scoop for your teacher.
some people are just dense i guess...even when there are signs warning them not to feed the monkeys (or any animal in the wild or zoo), they do it anyway. in Subic, where the former US naval base was located, there are lots of moneys by the road, like your last photo--and people throw food from their cars!
maybe the teacher called the kids 'monkeys' with fondness.:p
I just hope that the food they give won't make these monkeys sick.
Have a great Sunday!
We do have wild monkeys in certain forested areas of Singapore. Sometimes the monkeys would come out of their habitats to seek for food at the houses of residents.
Hi Vicki --
There may be no monkeys in Australia but I know from a visit there that there are lots of interesting creatures! (And yes, I really did see kangaroos in the wild while there! ;D)
Hi Luna Miranda --
Here, there are large signs telling people they're liable to a fine as well as that it's against the law to feed monkeys -- but to no avail. It doesn't help that country park officials are rarely seen patrolling the country parks! :S
Hi Julie --
They don't seem to make the monkeys sick. Instead, the population grows to unhealthy levels! :(
Hi EastCoastLife --
Actually, didn't realize that there were wild monkeys in Singapore! You've taught me something new today -- thank you! :)
I'm not sure - have taught many children over the years who have a whole lot in common with those monkeys! ARGH
Hi JDeq --
Yikes re your comment... so are you saying the children you taught were super mischievous, noisy or both? :b
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