Monkeys!

Monkeys!!

Hello Dear Great Ones,

Hong Kong has about 2500 wild monkeys.  The above video shows some monkeys at a parking lot by the famous Monkey Hill.  You are not supposed to feed them, but it is a favourite past time amongst many Hong Kongers to drive up to Monkey Hill and throw peanuts at them and watch them scatter and fight for their fair share.  Usually they also squeal at each other, which makes it more entertaining.

For me personally I don't particularly like the monkeys.  They kind of scare me especially when they follow me.  I do however, like seeing them in the wild swinging around in the trees.  That is kind of fun.   I have found that if you just pretend to  ignore them they will pretend to ignore you and you can actually get quite close to them.  In a way the monkeys have become kind of a tourist attraction.   Here are some facts I have gleaned about them: 

Kam Shan, or Monkey Hill to most locals, is a famous macaques kingdom in Hong Kong. The macaques are the largest group of mammals in the park. The most significant species occurring here are Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) and Long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis). These monkeys are probably descendants of monkeys released by pet owners in the 1920s, whereas wild macaque groups native to Hong Kong have almost disappeared due to habitat destruction and over-hunting. 

Hong Kong falls within the range of natural distribution of the Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta). However, the original wild stock is believed to have become extirpated. The existing wild monkey populations are considered as the descendants of the individuals which have been introduced to the Kowloon Hills, i.e. Kam Shan and Lion Rock Country Parks in the 1910s. It is believed that the Rhesus Macaques have been re-introduced to Hong Kong to control the spread of a local poisonous plant, the strychnos. Someone worried that the strychnos’ fruit, which are toxic to human, may poison the water in the reservoir. However, the fruits are not poisonous to the monkeys and in fact, they are one of the favorite food of monkeys. Beside the Rhesus Macaque, a few individuals of the Long-tailed Macaque (M. fascicularis) have also been released to the same area in 1950s which have led to the crossbreeding between these two Macaca species. Nevertheless, these wild monkeys adapted to the environment well and they formed a famous monkey population in the Kowloon Hills which is also known as “Monkey Hill” to most locals.

Have a great week.  God bless you!

 Pointy ears in the back reminded me of Spock from Star Trek.

 Mommy holding baby tight.

 Where they belong high in a tree.

 Two buddies hanging out.

 This guy reminded me of planet of the apes.

Where he belongs.  High in a tree.