Monkeys call regularly at this house

Family of about 20 monkeys 'visit' the Moks' house in Almond Avenue daily, destroying the plants and fruit trees

By Selina Lum

OVER the Chinese New Year period, Mrs Lilian Mok's neighbours have been dropping in to visit her every day.

New Year Guest: A monkey from the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve munches a Mandarin orange at the Mok's house. -- AZIZ HUSSIN

But instead of bringing her mandarin oranges, they have been taking some of the festive fruits that had been left in her driveway.

She would be offended, except that these are not ordinary neighbours. They are a family of monkeys - about 20 of them.

Mrs Mok's cul-de-sac house in Almond Avenue, near Bukit Panjang, borders a forested area near the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve where the monkeys live.

They started 'visiting' her one lazy Sunday afternoon a few months ago.

Going Bald: Monkeys devouring the remaining leaves on Mrs Mok's papaya tree.

'I was reading newspapers in my room when I saw this whole row of monkeys outside, staring at me,' she told The Straits Times.

Mrs Mok, who lives in the house with her husband and two children, chased the monkeys away with a broom.

But over time, they got bolder and came closer.

Eventually, they climbed over the fence into her garden, destroying her plants and fruit trees.

'They ate the leaves of my papaya trees until they're botak. I had to cut down five of the trees,' she moaned.

She used to leave her windows open to catch the light breeze, but now keeps them tightly shut.

Mrs Mok enjoys bird-watching, gardening and the outdoors. She said squirrels and iguanas were welcome into her garden, but not monkeys.

'I love nature, but not monkeys. They are vicious, and it can be scary when 20 monkeys stare at you,' she said.

She believes the monkeys were driven out of their home by a nearby road-extension project, because the area had been peaceful for the past four years.

So far, the Moks seem to be the only ones affected, but Mrs Mok is concerned that the monkeys might start wandering around the estate.

'People may feed the monkeys or get attacked if they don't,' she said.

Mr S.Y. Goh, head of public affairs of the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), advised people not to feed monkeys as that would encourage them to come out.

'If the monkeys endanger your life or property, call the police immediately,' he said.

The AVA loans traps to people who feel disturbed by monkeys. The authority will then pick up the trapped monkeys and take them to the Zoo.