On the bright morning of March 14th, 2025, the Student Association once again held everyone's beloved event—the NSYSU Monkey Tour! Located within beautiful mountains, our campus shares its home with native monkeys, Macaca Cyclopis, or also called as Formosan Rock Macaque. Living in harmony with these charming neighbors provides us with various challenges. Thankfully, our collaborative community from the Association for Coexistence with Macaca Cyclopis (ACMC), also known as 社團法人台灣獼猴共存推廣協會, joined us to provide expert guidance. The guides primarily spoke Mandarin, accompanied by an enthusiastic translator who fluently bridged our understanding into English.

Before we embarked on our journey, our friendly ACMC guides shared essential tips to ensure our safety and to make sure both us and monkeys could enjoy each other's company:

• Monkeys might approach and touch you—remember, please don’t touch back!

• If a monkey moves towards you, calmly sit down to appear non-threatening.

• Hold your bag firmly in front of you to keep curious paws at bay.

• Should they leap onto you, remain still and gentle; sudden movements may startle them.

• And remember—avoid rustling plastic bags or opening your bags in their presence; monkeys find this irresistibly tempting!

Only a short distance into our mountain hike, we spotted a heartwarming sight: monkeys gently grooming each other. Our guide explained that grooming is a vital social habit, essential for acceptance within their groups. We also learned something fascinating—the monkeys here were gentler and more accustomed to visitors compared to our lively campus residents, who tend to be a bit territorial, rightfully protective of their home.

As we delve deeper into the mountain, we felt incredibly fortunate to witness a truly special moment—the first newborn monkey of the year, softly cradled by its loving mother. We quietly sat nearby, blending into the environment as we listened to captivating stories about monkey family life shared by our guides. Playful groups of teenage monkeys curiously approached us, entertaining us with their playful antics and energetic charm. Our guides mentioned that youthful monkeys are naturally inquisitive, while adult monkeys typically maintain their distance unless provoked.

As we neared the end of our wonderful tour, another delightful scene unfolded before us—monkeys splashing and joyfully playing in a nearby pool! Some monkeys, evidently comfortable with human presence, came even closer and playfully jumped onto our shoulders. With gentle laughter and wide smiles, we truly felt connected to these amazing animals.

As our wonderful tour concluded, we captured precious moments with group photos, cherishing this unforgettable experience. Before parting ways, one guide warmly concluded:
“You've all been incredibly lucky today! Not only did you see the playful side of our monkey friends, but you've also witnessed something truly special—the very first monkey baby born this year, the only one at this moment!”

– ACMC
Photo credit: 吳權翰
Written by: Stan