SINGAPORE: From next month, the fine imposed on those who feed monkeys in parks will be upped from the current S$250 to S$500.

The National Parks Board (NParks) said the number of people being fined has been on the rise since 2006.

The problem with monkey feeding is that it makes the animals reliant on humans for food. And when they become too familiar with humans, the monkeys can sometimes get aggressive.

Feeding them may also result in an unhealthy growth of the monkey population, and some may stray out of nature reserves into residential areas. When that happens, they would often have to be culled.

NParks said it realises enforcement is not the only way to solve the problem, so it has tried educating the public by putting up signs and distributing pamphlets.

Unfortunately, there is a persistent minority that continues to feed the primates.

Under the Parks & Trees Act, monkey feeders can be fined up to a maximum of S$50,000 and/or jailed up to six months.


- CNA/so