How to Prevent or Survive a Monkey Attack

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Last Updated: December 14, 2024 Fact Checked

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Congratulations! You’ve booked a trip to somewhere monkeys populate. You’ve got your passport, your camera, and have prepared a list of all the sights you want to see. But have you considered the fact that during your trip you might encounter a monkey? Read the following tips to avoid bodily injury when dealing with monkeys and protect yourself from a potentially frightening and dangerous experience.

Part 1

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Taking Proper Precautions

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1
Dress appropriately. It’s best to wear plain and simple clothing when going into an environment with monkeys.
- Do not wear jewelry.
- Remove all piercings.
- Leave anything shiny at home, for example, sequin-covered shirts.
- Long hair should be tied up or put back.
- Consider wearing contact lenses instead of glasses.
- Leave your purse, fannypack or backpack at home. Monkeys in popular vacation areas have been known to raid them for food and treats.^{[1]
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Keep your distance. Set aside your fantasies about getting close to a cute and loveable monkey. Sure, it’s possible to cultivate a relationship with monkeys over a long period of time. And some monkeys are tamer than others. But you must always remember that, no matter what, monkeys are wild animals. Keeping your distance is important step in preventing a monkey attack. Remember:
- Some species of monkeys have up to four times the strength of a human being.
- Monkeys are unpredictable.
- Monkey bites are dangerous due to the high levels of bacteria in their mouths.
- Monkeys are common carriers of rabies.
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It’s almost always a bad idea to have food in the vicinity of a monkey, as food is one of the most common reasons a monkey will attack. This applies to food you’ve kept hidden in a container, too. Monkeys have an amazing sense of smell and can even detect food that’s still in its packaging. Plus, giving food to one monkey will likely attract others, which may interpret your refusal to feed them as a sign of aggression and be a reason for them to attack. It may seem like innocent fun and other people may be doing it, but please: do not feed the monkeys.^{[2]
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Avoid smiling at monkeys or making any sort of gesture that shows or bares your teeth. To a monkey, a big toothy grin is a sign of threat and aggression. Don't yell at, sing to, tease or heckle the monkey. Avoid any postures that would seem aggressive to a fellow human being and keep your motions minimal. Being aggressive will only get you attacked.
You’ve found the coolest location, the light is right, and there are tons of cute monkeys just waiting to be photographed. But be careful. Monkeys have been known to attack selfie-takers because they sometimes interpret their own reflection in the camera lens as a strange and potentially dangerous monkey. Focusing on your camera and not on the situation around you can be dangerous because it means you’re not considering important signs that may affect whether a monkey is about to attack.

Part 2

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Dealing with Monkey Aggression

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Always pay close attention to a monkey’s body language. There are some behaviors you should become familiar with. For example, a monkey is telling you it feels threatened and might behave in an aggressive manner if it blinks, makes an exaggerated yawn or gives you a big smile. When a monkey bares its teeth it is almost always a sign of aggression.^{[3]
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If a monkey is acting especially aggressive, don’t run away or show your fear. The pecking order in monkey clans is well-established and running away will tell the monkey that you are subordinate to them and will increase their aggressive instincts. Instead, back away slowly while still facing the monkey and avoiding direct eye contact.
Most acts of monkey aggression are a result of a monkey thinking you have food. If you do have food, throw it in their direction. If you don’t, simply hold out your empty palms to show the monkey you have none.

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Surviving an Attack

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Don’t panic. Many people who study monkeys have been attacked by them – but have never been bitten. The secret is to avoid panicking if an aggressive monkey comes at you and jumps on you. The monkey is most likely only asserting itself and is not looking for actual combat.^{[4]
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- Contain your fear as best as possible.
- Don’t scream.
- Don’t try to fight the monkey or push it off.
- Walk calmly away. The monkey will eventually let go and leave you alone.
Never refuse to drop something that a monkey has grabbed hold of. Monkeys are very curious creatures but they also have shorter attentions spans than we do, so the chances are they’ll drop whatever it is they’ve grabbed within a short amount of time. Anything with straps, like your camera or backpack are tempting for monkeys and many people have been attacked because they refuse to let the monkey examine it.
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Treat any bites or wounds immediately. A monkey bite, no matter how small it may seem, is no laughing matter. Monkeys are known carriers of rabies but even a bite from a healthy monkey can cause a life-threatening infection due to the bacteria in their mouths.^{[5]
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- Retreat to a safe place.
- Scrub your wound with clean water and soap to make sure as many germs as possible have been removed.
- Visit a doctor as soon as you can. They will likely suggest a course of antibiotics and may even suggest antibiotics against rabies, which has no initial symptoms and is fatal if not treated immediately.

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Why are monkeys scared of dogs?

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Any monkey is not guaranteed to be scared of any dog. Monkeys are likely to be scared of any dog bigger than them. Dogs are predators and a monkey or it's young could be prey.

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If a monkey starts walking toward me, and I'm empty handed, what should I do?

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Hold open your hands and show that you have nothing. Monkeys are very curious and will lose interest somewhat quickly.

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What are monkeys afraid of?

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Monkeys are usually scared of loud sounds, like firecrackers or gunshots.

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Tips

Monkeys often enter homes in search of food. Keep your food put away and refrigerator locked.^{[6]
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Monkeys attack women and children more frequently than men. Women and children should take special care to follow the precautions above.

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Do not underestimate a monkey's strength. They are much stronger than you think.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If traveling with a young child, use a baby carrier that fully encloses them. Monkey interactions with babies often end poorly due to noise and grabbing.
Don't assume a monkey is tame or wishes to be fed or petted because others are engaging with it. Every monkey responds uniquely based on its personality.
When packing, leave tempting items like food, makeup, and shiny objects at home. Anything that smells good or is colorful risks attracting attention.
Yelling for help during an attack may further aggravate the monkey. Stay calm and retreat slowly instead. Others can tend wounds once you're safe.
After an attack, thoroughly clean the wound and go directly to the nearest medical clinic or hospital to get checked out and receive treatment.
Research monkey behaviors at your destination before traveling so you know what actions could trigger aggression.

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Warnings

Certain monkeys, when in groups, defend and attack together.

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Monkeys have been known to throw things, including their feces.

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DO NOT engage in a fight with a large monkey or ape. A chimpanzee has the strength of several adult men, and has the capacity to brutally injure and disfigure you with ease.

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