Spark Study Buddy (Explorer): Cambodian monkeys go wild thanks to YouTubers
[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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
22-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
More than 2 dozen Unesco World Heritage sites added to list
Do you know how many Unesco World Heritage sites there are in the world? The answer is now 1,248 landmarks, spanning across more than 170 countries after recent additions to the list. Unesco added multiple sites during July, with Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle arguably the most well-known of the new properties. The fairy-tale castle inspired Walt Disney's creation of Sleeping Beauty's palace.
South China Morning Post
20-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
How the kebaya became a symbol of Southeast Asian heritage, and how its name spread
Cheongsam, qipao, kimono, hanbok, sari, salwar-kameez – these traditional Asian outfits and their names have long been embraced by the English-speaking world. What about kebaya? The kebaya has been a significant element of cultural heritage for centuries. These hip- to shin-length front-opening tunics or blouses are made from various materials such as cotton or voile, are often adorned with intricate embroidery and are worn with fasteners such as brooches, buttons or a sash. The celebrated modern female cabin crew uniforms of the airlines of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia give an idea. Several Southeast Asian nations had previously laid claim to the kebaya (pronounced 'kuh-BYE-ah') as their traditional dress symbolising their unique heritage and identity. The garment's inscription onto the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2024 was most significant for being a joint bid made by five countries – Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand – in a show of mutual respect and cross-border interaction. A Singapore Airlines flight attendant wearing a kebaya serves food and drinks. Photo: Shutterstock That the garment and its underlying cultural knowledge span the region should not be surprising.
South China Morning Post
15-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Macau's historic centre added to Unesco World Heritage list in 2005
This article was first published on July 16, 2005. By Freda Wan Heritage listing hailed as key to widening Macau's appeal Macau's aim to position itself as something more than a gambling hub received a boost on Tuesday night (July 15, 2005) when many of its landmarks were added to Unesco's World Heritage list. The 29 sites, which played a key role in the earliest encounters between east and west, now rank alongside such famed sites as China's Great Wall and the Angkor temples in Cambodia. The announcement was made last night at a conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in Durban, South Africa. The sites – described by Macau chief executive Edmund Ho Hauwah as a 'unique, peerless jewel' – incorporate many Portuguese buildings that were the first of their kind on Chinese soil.
