This on its own is almost enough to make me sign on for IM Malaysia
“Avoid smiling at the monkeys.”
http://ap.ironman.com/triathlon/eve...#Important
Course Information
Bike Course -Monkey Zone Overview
A Monkey Zone has been identified along the bike course route. The local area of Datai is renowned for a high concentration of monkeys. The zone is located between 46km – 58km, 133km – 145km as illustrated on the Monkey Zone Map.
Athlete should expect to see monkeys beside and on the road particularly in this zone. Athletes need to be cautious and aware of their surrounds whilst in the area and ride to the conditions.
IRONMAN advise athletes that this is a “NO FOOD ZONE”, where athletes should not consume gels, bars or nutritional items and littering will be a major offence.
Personal Safety
Some simple rules for athletes on the bike course to help understand the behaviour of monkeys and reduce the risk of incidents, and should be promoted to the public so they can take appropriate self-precautions.
The Long-Tailed Macaque and the Southern Pig Tailed Macaque monkeys are now considered as one of the World’s top 100 invasive species as they continue to invade areas that are not naturally native. Due to their increasing association of humans with food, monkeys are not intimidated and may stand their ground in the presence of humans, and are also known to becoming aggressive. In the presence of food or even plastic bags monkeys can snatch, chase and follow humans to acquire the edible items.
The below points are promoted IRONMAN from the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) and are taken into consideration when undertaking activities throughout the event;
• Do NOT feed the monkeys: feeding one monkey will attract many more and denying food can trigger
• Do NOT feed the monkeys: feeding one monkey will attract many more and denying food can trigger aggressive behaviour
• Do NOT litter: Discarding litter and waste for food remnants will increase the association of human with food
• Do NOT stop or slow down: Stopping or slowing down to view monkeys will attract more monkeys and can be a sign of threat and aggression
• Do NOT take photos: flashes and reflections from the camera lens can trigger aggressive behaviour
• Do NOT play or grab items: using a bag strap or clothing for play or tug of war can trigger aggressive behaviour
• Avoid eye contact with monkeys: showing the whites of your eye is a sign of threat and aggression.
• Avoid smiling at monkeys: showing your teeth is a sign of threat and aggression
If you are threatened by a monkey… stand your ground, wave your arms, or pick up a stick if there are any available. If you must retreat, back away slowly while still facing the monkey; running or showing fear will encourage their behaviour rather than causing them to back down.
If you are bitten by a monkey… immediately scrub with clean water and soap. Every scratch or bite must be checked by a doctor as soon as possible. Monkeys are regular carriers of rabies; even the ones not rabid can create dangerous infections and fevers due to the high level of bacteria in their mouths.
Rabies has no early symptoms and is fatal if not treated immediately.
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Comments
Wow! That is unbelievable. I like the "whites of your eyes" can be threatening....these things sound pretty hostile!
But if they could be trained to wrap their terrifying little hands around a Perform bottle, they would be great for handing up bottles at an all-monkey aid station.
I'd pay a $5,000 registration fee to race a tri that had an all-monkey aid station.
I'll pass on the trip to Malaysia and possibility of monkey attacks.
Be first out of the water, hammer the bike to the monkey zone, then eject a bucket of peanuts into the road. Like a James Bond oil slick / smoke screen, but with monkeys
Tim, you're not much bigger than a monkey so I can see how you lost that one.
And I think rich is on to something. I would definitely not want to be bringing up the rear on that course. Once the monkeys get the taste of power gels they would be on the lookout for them attached to bikes. Imagine a monkey on caffeine from a gel...yikes.
Just saw this thread. I've spent a significant amount of time in KL as my previous company had an office there and I will NEVER forget my first golfing experience in KL.
We arrived at the golf course and were assigned three golf caddies. Now I am a horrible golfer... horrible is being polite. But when we pressed that three golf caddies per golfer were NOT necessary, they would not listen. There was a bit of a language barrier, but we understood the first caddie for our bag, the second caddie to hold an umbrella for the sun, but we couldn't understand what the purpose of the third caddie. They would not let us go out without the third and MOST important caddie - whom carried a broom. We relented and started on. During the first two holes, the third caddie did nothing but chat with the other caddies.
BUT by the third hole, the third caddie RACED after my ball after I teed off. The caddie ran off waving the broom like a mad woman. My golf group was SHOCKED.
But then, came the monkeys. Not just one or two, but 7 or 8 monkeys. All going after my ball. It was like that for the rest of the round. We could not stop laughing that the course had to dedicate a forecaddie to scare monkeys away from our golfballs.