BEING BORN IN the year of the Monkey, I am often reminded of my connection to them. As soon as the year commences, my mother would hurry into Popular bookstore on the third floor of Gurney Plaza to purchase one of those Feng Shui horoscope books, eager to have a brief outlook on what the year ahead would hold for us both. I recall my childhood days growing up in the southern town of Sanur on the island of Bali, dashing out of the classroom with my schoolmates to the monkeys sitting on the brick wall by the gardens once the lunch bells rang, all of us giggling incessantly as we imitated their yawning expressions and mannerisms.

Langur Endemic

As I moved to and from the opposite ends of the Andaman and Java Sea, hopping from Singapore to Bali to Myanmar and now, Malaysia, I noticed an uptick of monkeys assimilating into the urban community area, popping up in playgrounds, lounging by the foot of a bus stop or even having a bicker with a mate by the pool.

Here in Penang, the dusky leaf monkey, also known as langur, is a frequently sighted species. They are often spotted in the stretch that links Teluk Bahang and Batu Ferringhi, but I have also caught them roaming around the vicinity of my apartment complex in Tanjung Bungah, perched on the pool deck.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed dusky leaf monkeys as “Endangered” under its Red List as a result of anthropogenic activities such as the development of forested areas, e.g. the building of roads and condominiums, the conversion of the wilderness into plantations as well as logging. With the continuous development of Penang, one can only fear the worst for the langurs and their compatriots.

Building Bridges

But brighter days are ahead for the langurs and other arboreal creatures living in Penang.

The Langur Project Penang (LPP) is a community-based research and conservation organisation focusing on creating a harmonious co-existence between humans and the growing urban wildlife. Founded by Jo Leen Yap, an accomplished wildlife researcher with a PhD in Zoology/Mammalogy, 2024 marks the eighth year of the organisation’s establishment. It does a multitude of conservation projects ranging from community awareness hikes to publishing research papers. In recent years, it successfully built two wildlife crossings for langurs to cross from one side of a four-way road to the other.

The construction of LPP’s two canopy bridges— the first in Teluk Bahang and the second in Lembah Permai—has been a longstanding vision of the organisation. Wildlife crossings assist primates and other arboreal mammals in the vicinity to cross roads safely and reduce roadkill.

The assembling of LPP’s first bridge in Teluk Bahang was featured in the BBC’s three-part docuseries, Primates, released in 2020, which highlighted the process. LPP follows in the footsteps of many other conservation efforts worldwide in using upcycled firehoses donated by the local fire station to construct these bridges. These are suitable in that they are durable and can withstand both rain and the blistering sun here in Penang.

Combating Misinformation

Among a host of other challenges, LPP faces the local stigma that considers the monkey population as pests. While writing this article, I stumbled upon a local forum page where demeaning and abusive comments were directed at the helpless monkeys, telling other commenters to shoot them or leave live firecrackers in their food. One comment reads: “A pet dog, slingshot, water jet, poisoned food, hell even a hunting rifle, why not. They breed like rabbits, so don’t feel guilty about killing some of them. If anything you’d be doing everyone a favor.” As I read through the comments on this forum, I came to the realisation that people seem to have forgotten that this land was their home long before it was ours.

To combat this growing trend of maltreatment and misinformation, LPP often hosts community-based activities to engage and educate local citizens, taking them on hikes and producing informative leaflets in the three main languages: Malay, Mandarin and English. The “Ada Monyet?!” guide gives brief but educational pointers and guidelines on how to deal with monkeys if you happen to be in the same vicinity as them. The most crucial points to remember are as follows:

• NEVER approach and feed the monkeys. Your innocent act of kindness can cause sickness to the animals and having litter in their home will do them no good. Langurs, in particular, are fruit-eating herbivores with a unique trait of swallowing the seed whole; the seed passes through their digestive tract undamaged. Because of this, they are able to excrete the seeds in a new location, spreading the fruit and thus the tree into new locations.

• KEEP a safe distance. If you approach a monkey, they may feel threatened and lunge out in self-defense. It is recommended to keep a good distance of four to five metres.

• AVOID showing teeth and making direct eye contact. They would feel at ease without your penetrative gaze. Bearing a smile showcases that you are submissive and weak. Wearing a calm expression and showing no teeth would alleviate any concerns the monkeys have towards you.

• WALK confidently or at a brisk pace. Showing confidence asserts your strength and the monkeys should no longer be a worry for you. If you are on a walk, consider carrying a hiking stick or any long stick you can forage. Gently tap the stick on the ground as you walk to keep the monkeys at a distance.

There is still a vast amount to do in preventing further damage to the langur population and that of other arboreal creatures that call Penang home, but with the continuous conservation work LPP does and with the collaborative efforts of the local community, a positive future looms ahead.

If you would like to get involved with LPP, scan the QR code to reach key pages on their website, or check out their social media pages on Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram under the handle @langurprojectpenang or @langurpenang.