22/05/2023
The population of the Balinese long-tailed monkey, Macara fascicularis, also known as the Macaque in the Monkey Forest Ubud, is about 1059 monkeys! They are divided into family groups according to which part of the forest they live in, with about 120 monkeys each. The monkeys are active in the daytime and rest at night, like humans. They are omnivorous, and their diets include fruits, leaves, flowers, insects, and small animals. Staff feed them a nutritious diet, which keeps them coming back. They are free to leave the forest and forage in the town, which they do as, as you'll see in a later post.
The Monkey Forest Ubud is a popular tourist attraction in Bali, and it's incredible to think that visitors can observe the monkeys in their natural habitat and that they don't have to be in cages. The Monkey Forest plays an essential role in conservation efforts for Macaca fascicularis, as it provides a protected habitat for the species amid the rapidly expanding development on the island of Bali.
This first lot of photos depict the forest in general, and later in the week, there'll be more specific pictures and information.