The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
It is important to treat the monkeys with respect as this forest is their home and you are a guest in it. Please remain on the paved paths. The monkeys may become aggresive if you invade their private areas (Wanara Wana staff and researcher may occasionally be seen in this areas - please do not follow them).
It can often seen how the Balinese Macaques are cracking open coconuts. If acailable they like to eat bananas and papayas, too. Once taken please leave the fruit with the monkeys. If you wish to feed the macaques please do so carefully, and if they take food from you, please do not attempt to retrieve it. Is is also of great importance that you treat the trees, the plants and other animals and structures whitin The Scared Monkey Forest with freat respect.
This is a holy area and an important ecological preserve. Please enjoy the beauty and magic of this place, while at the same time respecting what lives in it. If you have any question or if you should need assistance, please asked The Wenara Wana personnel (identified by their green uniforms) or a member of the research project.
Dear visitors,
The Monkeys are very important to the Balinese culture. This importance is reflected in dances and stories such as the Kecak and the Ramayana, in statues, carving and many folk tales. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Wanara Wana and that your experience here will be a pleasant and memorable one.
Tri Hita Karana Doctrine
In accordance with BalirEse Hindu philosophy, peace and liberty are obtainable in our lives only
when we respect and ob+rve the three harmonious relationships known as Tri Hita Karana Doctrine:
1. The Gods blessed lifeund created nature and all of its contents.
2. Nature offers sustenaæ to support the needs and activities of hurna9 beings.
3. Human beings have an obligation to establish a traditional village structure, to build temples in
which worship, to h various ceremonies, to make daily offering, preserve nature and to
solve problems together.
This doctrine can be se in practice during many special ceremonies. The ceremonies that are
related to the Monkey Fokest are Tumpek Kandang, where people make speeal offerings to the forest
(and all animals in general) and Tumpek Nguduh, where plants are equally eelebrated.
It can often seen how the Balinese Macaques are cracking open coconuts. If acailable they like to eat bananas and papayas, too. Once taken please leave the fruit with the monkeys. If you wish to feed the macaques please do so carefully, and if they take food from you, please do not attempt to retrieve it. Is is also of great importance that you treat the trees, the plants and other animals and structures whitin The Scared Monkey Forest with freat respect.
This is a holy area and an important ecological preserve. Please enjoy the beauty and magic of this place, while at the same time respecting what lives in it. If you have any question or if you should need assistance, please asked The Wenara Wana personnel (identified by their green uniforms) or a member of the research project.
Dear visitors,
The Monkeys are very important to the Balinese culture. This importance is reflected in dances and stories such as the Kecak and the Ramayana, in statues, carving and many folk tales. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Wanara Wana and that your experience here will be a pleasant and memorable one.
Tri Hita Karana Doctrine
In accordance with BalirEse Hindu philosophy, peace and liberty are obtainable in our lives only
when we respect and ob+rve the three harmonious relationships known as Tri Hita Karana Doctrine:
1. The Gods blessed lifeund created nature and all of its contents.
2. Nature offers sustenaæ to support the needs and activities of hurna9 beings.
3. Human beings have an obligation to establish a traditional village structure, to build temples in
which worship, to h various ceremonies, to make daily offering, preserve nature and to
solve problems together.
This doctrine can be se in practice during many special ceremonies. The ceremonies that are
related to the Monkey Fokest are Tumpek Kandang, where people make speeal offerings to the forest
(and all animals in general) and Tumpek Nguduh, where plants are equally eelebrated.
The Temples
Based on an analysis of the Pura Purana, a holy Iontar book which is a historical of the temple. the Holy Monkey Temples were built during the mid-llth century during the Pejeng Dynasty or early Gelgel Dynasty.
There are three holy temples in The Sacred Monkey Forest:
1. The Pura Dalem Agung Temple is located in the southwestern portion of the main forest area. This temple
is the most prominent temple in The Monkey Forest.
2. To the northwest, down a long flight of steps and next to the stream, you will find the Holy Bathing Temple with a structure of "Three Mandalas". The Utama Mandala, for disciples of the derties, is located at the center and contatns the holy pooL. The Nista Mandala, at southern bridge, is the special barning place for human beings.
3. The third temple, the Pura Prajapati (the funeral or cremation temple) is located on the eastern edge of the main forest. along side a graveyard.
In a ditional to the three temples, there are also two graveyards.
The Balinese Macaques
Monkeys that live in this sanctuary are called Balinese macaques, also known as long tail macaques. Their scientific name is macaca fascicularis and aside from humans, macaques are the most widespread and successful of all primates.
About 563 macaques currently reside in the monkey forest. There are approximately 46 adult males, 166 adult females and 351 young. These macaques live primarily in 5 clusters offemales and males. Each ofthese groups tends to use different areas of the forest at different times of the day.
However, nearly all the macaques use all of the forest. Conflicts sometime arise when two groups are in same area. Adult males weight up to 8 - 10 kilos and have large canine teeth, broad shoulders and facial hair that resembles a moustache. The adult females are smaller than the males (4-8 kilograms) and have long facial hair resembling beards.
Balinese macaques society is centered around groups of related females called "matrilines". Balinese macaques society is centered around groups bf related females called "matrilines". Male macaques usually migrate in from other area and attempt to associate themselves with the female matrilines. Both, males and females, have set of dominance relationship, but they are not always clear or consistent.
Mating can take place all year round but most infants are born during the months of May - August. Macaques mothers range from very protective to very permissive with their infants. Many females who are not the mother spend time holding and caring for infants. Sometime you will even see an adult male "mothering" as well.
Research and Conservation
The Sacred Monkey Forest serves not only as an important component in the spiritual and daily -lives of the village, but is the site of several research and conservation programs. The maintenance and management of special place like this pull the attention of researcher from all over the world.
Especially the interactions between human beings and the monkeys of this sacred place are subject to surveys and research studies.
The Balinese Macaques
Monkeys that live in this sanctuary are called Balinese macaques, also known as long tail macaques. Their scientific name is macaca fascicularis and aside from humans, macaques are the most widespread and successful of all primates.
About 563 macaques currently reside in the monkey forest. There are approximately 46 adult males, 166 adult females and 351 young. These macaques live primarily in 5 clusters offemales and males. Each ofthese groups tends to use different areas of the forest at different times of the day.
However, nearly all the macaques use all of the forest. Conflicts sometime arise when two groups are in same area. Adult males weight up to 8 - 10 kilos and have large canine teeth, broad shoulders and facial hair that resembles a moustache. The adult females are smaller than the males (4-8 kilograms) and have long facial hair resembling beards.
Balinese macaques society is centered around groups of related females called "matrilines". Balinese macaques society is centered around groups bf related females called "matrilines". Male macaques usually migrate in from other area and attempt to associate themselves with the female matrilines. Both, males and females, have set of dominance relationship, but they are not always clear or consistent.
Mating can take place all year round but most infants are born during the months of May - August. Macaques mothers range from very protective to very permissive with their infants. Many females who are not the mother spend time holding and caring for infants. Sometime you will even see an adult male "mothering" as well.
Research and Conservation
The Sacred Monkey Forest serves not only as an important component in the spiritual and daily -lives of the village, but is the site of several research and conservation programs. The maintenance and management of special place like this pull the attention of researcher from all over the world.
Especially the interactions between human beings and the monkeys of this sacred place are subject to surveys and research studies.
