Spark Study Buddy (Explorer): Cambodian monkeys go wild thanks to YouTubers
Content provided by British Council
[1] Wild monkeys at Cambodia's Angkor temple complex have been causing trouble, encouraged by YouTubers. Officials say the monkeys are attacking tourists. They are also damaging the temple's stonework and informational signs.
[2] The agency that runs the Unesco-listed site, APSARA National Authority, warned visitors to stay away from the groups of 'aggressive' macaques. The animals live around the massive complex of ruins and have been biting tourists.
[3] The macaques are native to the lush forests that surround the temple ruins in the Angkor Archaeological Park. However, the APSARA National Authority said human interaction has changed their behaviour. One big problem comes from people filming content to post online.
[4] Some YouTubers feed monkeys for their videos. This has changed the natural behaviour of the monkeys from being wild animals to domestic ones. They are aggressive, stealing food and injuring people, the APSARA National Authority said. Some people have reportedly even filmed themselves abusing macaques.
[5] Long Kosal is a spokesman for the APSARA National Authority. He said that besides the danger posed to tourists, the agency was also worried about the monkeys damaging the centuries-old stonework. 'On top of biting visitors, they have been climbing up and pushing stones down, damaging temples,' he said. He added that the macaques had also damaged information boards.
[6] The agency urged tourists to leave the monkeys alone while visiting the ruins. They said they are looking for 'an appropriate solution' to the problem. The Angkor complex, built from the 9th to the 15th centuries, was the capital of the Khmer Empire. It is Cambodia's top tourist attraction, bringing in a lot of money to a poor country.
[7] More than a million foreign tourists visited the park last year. It became a World Heritage site in 1992. Since then, the temples and the nearby jungle have benefited from better legal and physical protections.
[8] There is hope that wildlife sightings will spark interest in tourists and boost conservation efforts. The agriculture ministry plans to conduct a census of monkeys in public areas. They aim to identify and relocate those posing a danger to humans.
Source: Agence France-Presse, February 5
Questions
1. According to paragraph 1, the monkeys have been …
A. breaking stones in the temple.
B. hurting people.
C. ruining the signs.
D. all of the above.
2. According to paragraph 4, why are YouTubers feeding the monkeys?
3. The stonework mentioned in paragraph 5 are …
A. newly built.
B. about 10 years old.
C. more than 100 years old.
D. more than 1,000 years old.
4. To protect both tourists and the ancient temples, the APSARA National Authority is asking visitors … to interact with the monkeys, according to paragraph 6.
A. not
B. neither
C. nor
D. no
5. According to paragraph 7, when did the park become a World Heritage site?
6. Circle the correct answer. (3 marks)
Angkor Wat (was / is) built between the 9th and 15th centuries. It (was / is) the main city of the Khmer Empire. Today, it (was / is) Cambodia's biggest tourist spot.
The APSARA National Authority is seeking a solution to protect both tourists and the ancient ruins. Photo: AP
Answers
1. D
2. to create videos
3. C
4. A
5. 1992
6. was; was; is
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