Matheran Warnings Or Dangers

You will come across monkeys in many places in India - everywhere from temples to forts to jungles. The monkeys in the jungles are not used to interaction with humans and there is less chance they will bother you.

The monkeys that have been fed by humans are more likely to become aggressive - especially when they want more food. While the monkeys may look really cute, you have to remember that even though they'll take food right from your hand, they are still WILD animals.

You usually can purchase bananas, etc. near wherever there are monkeys. We've never had a problem feeding monkeys when there was a group of people around who were also feeding the monkeys. But we've had a few unpleasant encounters with monkeys when no one else was around.

Some suggestions:

Keep track of all the monkeys around you. If you get distracted with one monkey, another may run up to you and try to grab the food.

Don't carry food in the open and don't carry any plastic bags.

If you're walking through a wooded area/forest you may want to carry some kind of walking stick. Be vigilant about the monkeys overhead in trees.

Hold tightly onto your purse, camera, etc. because they are very mischievous - and fast - and
will grab your belongings and run.

Monkey bites are very serious and diseases can be passed through their saliva. If you do get bitten, clean the wound and see a doctor immediately!!