Monkeys beg for tourists

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The mayoralty is trying to tame hundreds of wild monkeys roaming Pusuk Hill forests in a bid to attract tourists.

The monkeys, which hang out along the roads in the forest, are given bananas, sweet potatoes and beans every week.

Chief of the local tourism office, Rachmat, said the government wants the monkeys to be like those in Sangeh, Bali. There, the primates hassle tourists for food.

Pusuk Hill is home to hundreds of monkeys. Many are seen during the day swinging or playing in groups along jungle paths, Antara said.

"We hope the monkeys can be tamed with the supplementary food," Rachmat said. (pan)