Thread:

10 reasons why NOT to feed monkeys at all

1. Monkeys are highly susceptible to diseases from human hands. They can die from bacteria transferred off your hand that has no ill effect on you.

2. Migration to human-populated areas to be fed increases the risk of dog attacks and road accidents.

3. Irregular feeding leads to an aggressive behavior towards humans and other species.

4. Contrary to the stereotype, bananas are not the preferred food of monkeys in the wild. Bananas, especially those containing pesticides, can be upsetting to the monkey's delicate digestive system and cause serious dental problems that can lead to eventual death.

5. Feeding creates a dangerous dependency on humans that diminishes the monkeys’ survival abilities.

6. Feeding interferes with the monkeys’ natural habits and upsets the balance of their lifestyle centered on eating wild fruits, seeds, small animals, and insects.

7. Contact with humans facilitates poaching and the trade in illegal wildlife.

8. Pregnant females who are fed nothing but bananas during their pregnancy will not give birth to healthy infants. The babies will be malnourished, or never develop to term, and die before birth.

9. Monkeys need to travel an average of 17 kilometers each day to be in good physical condition. If they know that food is available in a particular location, they will not leave that area.

10. Not only do we pass on diseases to animals when we feed them by hand, but they can pass diseases to us as well.

Majority of us are not aware about these facts, share it with your friends and family and when you see someone feeding monkeys, do try to educate and stop them

All pics are of Rhesus Macaque photographed in Margalla Hills National Park