Balinese monkeys getting nasty

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): The ubiquitous monkeys of the tourist resort of Sangeh are getting nasty, blemishing their image with petty crimes.

Many of them are past masters of snatching tourists' purses, handbags, wrist watches, necklaces, hats and sunglasses.

They will calmly hoard their loot in the trees until food vendors help dumbfounded tourists get back their property with fruit or peanuts sold at inflated prices.

"They must be in it together," sniffed a tourist from Bandung who had his thumb bitten by a monkey that failed to snatch his wrist watch last Sunday.

Embarrassed by complaints about the annoying animals, Badung regent Gusti Alit Putra called for a competition last year to tame the monkeys. Nobody has taken up the challenge so far.

Sangeh village chief Wayan Maka has come out in defense of the animals' rights.

"If they are not provoked, they won't do anything," he said. "They are just like us... They have pride they will fiercely defend. So don't hurt their feelings," he advised. (23/pan)