One of the disadvantages of tourism in The Gambia.
Recently the UK based newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, ran a piece on the growing conflict between tourists and green monkeys in Bijilo Forest Park in The Gambia. (entitled Primate Suspect on pages T1-T12, February 9th, 2008 by Dawn Starin).
I took one section from the article that sums up the whole
One presumes that tourists insist on feeding the monkeys because they are looking for a special connection between themselves and the animals. In fact, the guides and the tourists are creating a generation of pests.
So, apart from the bad behavior of the tourists there appears to be a lack of instruction for the guides,if this were put in place the tourists would realise what harm they are doing,the article I feel is a little lopsided and only portraying one side of the story,however saying that it highlights some drastic deficiencies in the instruction that the guides are given to perform their job,this education project would help the animals and the tourists,who would be educated by the guides.
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
Yes education is key for the sustainability of Bijilo, which is under threat from Tourists. having been there myself I quite enjoyed it. when I visited Bijilo at the end 2004 there were few Tourists there at the time. what I do remember though was that the monkeys wouldn't be satified with me feeding them a peanut at a time. They did like to take several peanuts out of my hands uncurling my fingures. I enjoyed seeing and feeding the monkey's and taking photos of them at Bijilo. As a visitor if I'd had the information available to me about the impacts of feeding the monkeys while I was there I wouldn't of feed them. However four years ago I was glad that I did.
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Posted - 06 Jun 2008 : 14:01:41
