Keeping our monkeys wild: upcoming talk and walk

Monkeys are among the highlights of a trip to our forests and wild places!

Unfortunately, there are many challenges facing these Long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Much of these issues are due to people feeding them.

This coming week, there is a talk about our monkeys and Crystal's Monkey Walk at Bukit Timah is launched! Find out more about why we should not feed our monkeys and how we can play our part to keep them wild!

8 Jan (Sat): Monkey Walk at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

In collaboration with NParks, Crystal will be leading Monkey Walks at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. After a short introduction to the Long-tailed macaques, head out to wherever the Hindhede monkeys happen to be, which is typically near the Visitor Centre or carpark at that time of day. As we all observe the macaques, Crystal will share more about their behavior, how to identify specific individuals, how the hierarchy of this group is organized, and more.

Crystal has been working with the Bukit Timah monkeys for the past year and a half and looks forward to the opportunity to share what she has learnt about these fascinating creatures.

The event is free but pre-registration is required with Crystal at sgmonkeywalk@gmail.com at least three days before the day of the walk. Walks will be limited to the first ten people to sign up.

The walk is held every second Saturday, Jan-May 11.

For more details, see Crystal's blog.

Time: 5-6pm
Venue: Meet at the Bukit Timah Visitor Centre. If it rains up to 45 minutes before the walk, the walk will be canceled.

8 Jan (Sat): Talk on "The Human-Monkey Conflict in Singapore"

Many Singaporeans have forgotten that land-scarce Singapore must be shared with our wildlife. Monkeys are wild creatures and we must learn how to understand them in order to live in harmony with them. This talk gives a brief introduction to the long-tail macaques of Singapore and the problems they encounter due to human intervention from loss of habitat and behavioural changes due to feeding. It will give an insight to the natural life of monkeys, their eating habits, common behaviours and facial expressions. We will attempt to show both sides of the conflict by addressing the need for human progress and safety. This talk aims to give people a basic understanding of these fascinating animals and how to react when they are met the wild so that humans and monkeys may find an equilibrium living in this country.

More about the speakers: Dinushini Williams and Raem Tan are managers in the Parks Division in National Parks Board. They are responsible for taking care of the nature parks in Singapore and also educate the public on being responsible visitors to the parks.

The talk is free and registration is not required.

Time: 3-4pm
Venue: Amazon, Woodlands Regional Library
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/ Ms Zheng Jiahui at zheng_jiahui@nparks.gov.sg