Taiwan: Monkey's 'tightrope walk' on power lines amuses netizens

An extraordinary scene unfolded in Neiliu Township, Yunlin County, Taiwan, where a monkey was observed expertly navigating a high-wire act on power cables. The primate's unusual display, captured on video, showed it walking along the cables, using its hands to steady itself on another wire, much to the amusement of onlookers.

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This is a new employee of Taipower.

The footage quickly went viral after being shared online, prompting a flood of humorous comments. Netizens jokingly referred to the monkey as a "new employee" of the Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) or an "outsourced contractor" inspecting power lines. The sight of the monkey's daring performance left many in stitches, with some calling it a "free circus performance."

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This is an outsourced contractor inspecting the lines.

Beyond the jokes, many viewers expressed curiosity about how the monkey managed to avoid electrocution. Professional netizens offered explanations, suggesting the monkey was likely on a low-voltage line and possibly had insulated wiring. A Taipower representative confirmed this analysis, stating that based on the video, the monkey appeared to be climbing on low-voltage lines. These lines use insulated wires, meaning the monkey could touch two wires without being shocked, and the power supply remained normal. However, Taipower cautioned that monkey behavior on power poles can vary, and such incidents could have different outcomes.

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Based on the video, the monkey is climbing on low-voltage lines. Because the low-voltage lines on the pole are covered wires, the monkey touching two covered low-voltage wires will not cause an electric shock, and the line power supply is normal.