Angkor Wat Monkeys Become Aggressive and Steal Water... Is It Because of Mobile Phones?

Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Faces Surge in Aggressive Monkeys
Tourists Injured Amid Rising Incidents
"YouTubers Feeding Monkeys Blamed... Some Even Abuse Them"

A violent troop of monkeys has appeared at Angkor Wat, Cambodia's representative cultural heritage site, causing harm to tourists. Angkor Wat, the world's largest temple complex, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. Last year, it was considered the driving force of Cambodia's tourism industry, attracting over one million foreign tourists.

On the 6th (local time), AFP reported that "the Cambodian APSARA Authority, which manages Angkor Wat, issued a warning on the 4th stating that the number of aggressive monkeys within Angkor Wat is increasing and caution is necessary."

The warning stated that many monkeys bite tourists and steal food and personal belongings. Long Kosal, spokesperson for the APSARA Authority, said, "Although the exact number is unknown, some people have suffered injuries such as torn skin, and some have had their food stolen." It is also reported that the monkey troops have climbed onto the stone structures of Angkor Wat and caused damage by knocking down stone carvings.

The APSARA Authority claims that the reason the monkeys exhibit violent behavior is due to the actions of some YouTubers. They regularly fed the monkeys to create their content, and the monkeys, having become accustomed to humans, began attacking people to obtain food.

It is reported that a few YouTubers even filmed themselves abusing monkeys at Angkor Wat. The APSARA Authority emphasized, "Actions taken to film videos can alter the monkeys' natural behavior, turning them into aggressive 'cleaner animals,'" and urged tourists to leave the monkeys alone while promising to find solutions to the problem.

Previously, there was controversy last year over an increasing number of videos filmed at Angkor Wat featuring a 'running challenge' posted on social media. Because the background resembles the popular game 'Temple Run,' people run around Angkor Wat mimicking the original filming angles, exaggerated gestures, and even the background music. According to local media, this led to an increase in tourists, but some pointed out that it could damage the cultural heritage and provoke the monkeys within the temple.