Anyone who has vacationed in a country where monkeys are wandering around knows that these little creatures are not to be messed with. It doesn’t matter how cute and cuddly they look. Monkeys don’t subscribe to the same morals and ethics that humans do. They often engage in mischievous or even aggressive behavior, including stealing. Take this YouTube video, for example. A monkey manages to grab hold of a woman’s passport. Before she could wrestle it back, the monkey tore it apart. Even if the monkey didn’t mean any harm, the woman probably had to go to the Embassy to get a new one. Otherwise, she would be stuck.
It’s hard to find much information about this video on the internet. However, some copies of the video on other channels and sites give some clues. It appears that this video was taken in Bali by a woman named Noemi Rojas Rangel. While the tourist in question remains unnamed, the videographer did give a brief interview to one channel. Let’s unpack this case of identity destruction, cases of monkeys stealing personal belongings, and what to do if you find yourself a victim of monkey thievery.
Monkey See, Monkey Chew
A woman is at a loss about what to do after a monkey steals her passport and begins ripping pages out of it.
©David Bokuchava/Shutterstock.com
In this YouTube video, a woman is seen on a wooden deck where some monkeys are sitting on the handrail. At first glance, it looks like one of the monkeys is holding a piece of maroon-colored paper. Then, the light produces the unmistakable glint of embossed lettering. That piece of paper is actually a passport. A woman appears on screen and gingerly tries to retrieve the object from the monkey, highlighting how important the passport is to her. She leans forward and tries to grab it, but hesitates, uncertain how the monkey will react. For its part, the monkey doubles down. It pulls the woman’s passport up to its mouth and starts chewing.
With its sharp teeth, the monkey starts pulling out pages from the passport booklet, and the eyewitnesses gasp. The woman turns around for a second. She seems to realize the predicament she has suddenly found herself in. Moments later, however, she jumps back in terror when another monkey runs along the railing toward her. The whole scene might seem amusing if it weren’t for the serious consequences. Even if the woman is due to go home within a few days, she’ll have to go to her country’s embassy and report the loss. In urgent cases, embassies can usually issue a limited-validity emergency passport on the same day or within a few days, allowing travelers to return home quickly.
More About the Video
According to the person filming, the monkey managed to grab the woman’s passport because her bag was open and she was distracted.
©Smeilova Anastasia/Shutterstock.com
While there isn’t much information available about this YouTube video, or its unfortunate subject, one source does provide some clues. According to a brief interview reprinted in an Instagram story caption, a woman named Noemi Rojas Rangel captured the stunning moment on camera in Bali last year. According to her, the monkey snuck up behind the woman before the camera was rolling. When she wasn’t looking, the monkey reached into her open bag and managed to grab her passport. Once the woman realized what had happened, “She tried to exchange the paper for the passport, but it didn’t work,” Rangel said.
Increasingly desperate, the woman and her companion asked people in the area if they had any food with which to distract the monkey. Unfortunately, Rangel explained, “no one had any.” Luckily, the woman managed to get her passport eventually by bribing the monkey with water. According to this Instagram post, however, the passport was destroyed.
Monkey’s Paw
Monkeys in places like Bali have learned how to steal valuable items as a negotiation tactic for food.
©umikem/Shutterstock.com
Never underestimate the intelligence of a monkey you run into on vacation. They may look cute and unthreatening, but they are whip-smart. They know what humans value and how to get the things they want from people. It’s important to keep your belongings secure; otherwise, monkeys will probably try to steal them. According to a Guardian article, researchers have found that monkeys are “skilled at judging which items their victims value the most and using this information to maximise their profit.” Macaques, like the one in the video, quickly realized that the passport was a high-value item. It likely knew it could get something valuable in exchange and raised the stakes by starting to destroy the passport.
If a monkey manages to steal your belongings, don’t get aggressive with it. Don’t try to make eye contact, bare your teeth, or scare it in any way. More likely, the monkey will try to barter the stolen item for food. When in doubt, keep your belongings tightly secured at all times. People often treat monkeys as if they are harmless, but it’s safer to remember that they are wild animals and to keep your belongings secure.
