A criminal enterprise run by monkeys

3 days ago (wsj.com)

I saw the title, got ready to post about my own criminal monkey misadventures, and realized it's the same place (Uluwatu Temple). However, the story underplays an important element: it's actually a triangular syndicate of crime, and humans are very much part of the picture.

First, the monkey steals something of value from a tourist and (the missing bit) they run inside the temple buildings, which are off-limits to tourists.

Second, a friendly temple priest or caretaker (the mentioned "monkey handlers"), who is allowed inside, fences the loot by exchanging it for something a monkey values, like a tasty banana.

Third, the relieved tourist gets their belongings back and generously tips the caretaker.

  • Do you think WSJ is doing this deliberately? Leaving out the part about how it's actually humans behind it. I've heard of this a long time ago, but I see this is a new story. Probably a hundred generations of monkeys have learned this behavior and they don't need any training or handling at this point!

As noted in the comments of the WSJ article, the monkeys have allegedly been trained by their human handlers to engage in this behavior. It is to promote the sales of the local food vendors at all costs. It is a criminal enterprise, but the criminals are still humans.

Don't forget how closely related we are. Not as close as to the murderous bastards known as chimpanzees, but close enough.

I wonder if they can serve drinks.

Deliver packages?

  • Sure, why not?

      Monkey helpers are trained to assist with tasks such as:
    
        Retrieving dropped objects such as cell phones or remote controls
        Opening bottles and inserting straws
        Turning on buttons/switches for remotes, phones, and computers
        Repositioning limbs on a wheelchair after a muscle spasm to prevent sores and other injuries
        Turning pages and scratching itches
    
    

    https://www.sunrisemedical.com/livequickie/blog/september-20...

There need to be swift, severe penalties for these generational crime families. They can't speak, all they understand is violence and ransom, so we must "speak" the only language that they also understand.