Bali Emergency Community Activity Restrictions: Sangeh Tourism Object Is Quiet, Hundreds Of Monkeys Are Threatened With Hunger

Hundreds of monkeys at the Sangeh Abiansemal tourist attraction, Badung Regency, Bali, are threatened with starvation because tourist visits are closed during emergency PPKM./IST PHOTO

BADUNG - Hundreds of monkeys at the Sangeh Abiansemal tourist attraction, Badung Regency, Bali, are threatened with starvation because tourist visits are closed during the emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).

The operational manager of the Sangeh tourist attraction, Made Mohon, said that at the tourist site there were about 600 individuals. The operational cost of feeding for hundreds of monkeys a day is at least IDR 500 thousand.

If calculated in one month, the manager spends at least IDR 15 million for operational costs. That doesn't even include cleaning fees.

"Approximately 600 tails, every day IDR 500 thousand runs out, that's the minimum", said Made when contacted, Tuesday, July 13.

The absence of tourist visits will certainly have an impact on the budget owned by the manager so that it becomes a threat to the supply of feedstocks for the hundreds of monkeys.

"This is a total closure for almost a month and there is no income whatsoever. Moreover, it has been more than a year since the impact of COVID-19, so the remaining funds from the previous year continue to run low because there is no income (during Emergency PPKM)", he added

Because of this condition, the manager finally opened donations for people who wanted to provide food to the hundreds of monkeys. His party also received all kinds of fruits to be given directly to the monkeys on the Sangeh tour.

"Any type of fruit is available, except for cassava because we have prepared cassava. If you want to donate, just go directly to the Sangeh tourist attraction", he said.

Made Mohon said that prior to the emergency PPKM policy, the number of visits to Sangeh had reached 50 people in a day.

"Even if it's not as crowded as before COVID-19, but at least the monkey feed can be covered with a few visits", he said.

He hopes that the emergency PPKM will no longer be extended by the government and eventually the tourism object will be reopened and tourists will come back to the Sangeh tourism object.

"Frankly, we as managers are worried if for example, this PPKM continues until next year, this is a concern", he said.