WE REFER to Mr Chin Kee Thou's letter, "Did tree pruning drive monkeys into estates?" (my paper, November 23).

Mr Chin suggested that tree pruning at MacRitchie Reservoir Park may have driven monkeys into housing estates.

From our observations, the availability of food is the main culprit.

Feeding monkeys alters their natural behaviour and makes them too familiar with humans. Hence, we have strict regulations against monkey-feeding in parks and nature reserves.

Feeding makes the monkeys a nuisance, even to visitors who do not give them food.

Should residents spot any monkeys in their estate, they should not encourage this behaviour by feeding them.

Leftover food should also be kept in covered dustbins so that it is not accessible to monkeys. Let them return to their natural habitat to forage.

For further clarification, Mr Chin is welcome to contact us via our 24-hour helpline on 1800-471-7300.

MS SHARON CHAN
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CENTRAL NATURE RESERVE) NATIONAL PARKS BOARD

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