Hundreds of monkeys at Sangeh Monkey Forest are facing uncertainties over their food supply with the current tightened restrictions in Bali, as tourist attractions are mandated to close to curb coronavirus transmission on the island.
Made Mohon, operational manager at Sangeh, told local media outlets this week that the facility is running low on funds to provide the animals their daily feed.
“There are about 600 monkeys and the food operational expense costs about IDR500,000 (USD 34.48) a day,” Mohon said.
Bali, along with other high-risk regions in Indonesia, is under the Emergency Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities (Emergency PPKM) since July 3. The current restrictions are the closest thing Indonesia has had to a lockdown and are expected to last until at least July 20.
With visitors dwindling throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Emergency PPKM adds another pressure to the operational costs of many tourist attractions and other businesses on the island, which had already been struggling. Indonesia is currently facing a devastating wave of coronavirus, which has yet to show any signs of slowing down. Bali today reported another daily record of COVID-19 infections with 791 cases.
Sangeh’s management is now accepting donations from the public, including fruits that could be immediately fed to the monkeys.
“Honestly, as management, we are concerned if this PPKM would continue until next year,” Mohon said.
