Unraveling the Macaque Troop: Shoushan Zoo Event Teaches Children How to Coexist with Monkeys

Shoushan Zoo in Kaohsiung has launched an interactive event called "Unraveling the Macaque Troop" to educate children about coexisting with Formosan rock macaques. The initiative, organized by the Kaohsiung City Agriculture Bureau and the Taiwan Monkey Coexistence Promotion Association, utilizes theatrical performances, checkpoint games, and guided explanations.

The program addresses the increasing encounters between humans and macaques in the Shoushan area, a significant habitat for the species. Improper interactions, such as feeding, provoking, or approaching too closely, can alter the macaques' natural foraging habits and lead to conflict. The event emphasizes fundamental principles: "do not feed, do not touch, do not disturb."

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Today, after listening to the explanations and playing the games with my child, I realized that many situations can be avoided. As long as food is not exposed and we don't get too close, facing macaques can be very safe.

Through a short play by the "Xiangzuo Theater," participants learn about macaque behavior and reactions in a lighthearted manner. The subsequent checkpoint activities encourage children to find the mascot "Hou Ji" and complete tasks, fostering family discussion and engagement. Parents noted that understanding these guidelines eased their anxiety about encountering macaques.

Lin Meiyin, secretary-general of the Taiwan Monkey Coexistence Promotion Association, stated that hands-on activities and scenario guidance help children grasp essential details for daily life, like securing belongings and avoiding exposed food. The event aims to instill ecological awareness from a young age, promoting harmonious coexistence between people and wildlife.

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Through practical operations and scenario guidance, children can better understand the details that should be paid attention to in daily life, such as avoiding carrying exposed food and properly storing personal items. At the same time, through parent-child activities, children can gain a better understanding of nature from a young age, achieving the effect of ecological education taking root from the bottom up.