Students and staff at a university in Taiwan were met with an unusual and startling sight on the first day of the new academic year: dozens of wild monkeys descending the exterior walls of a dormitory building. The extraordinary scene, captured on video and shared widely online, initially led some to question its authenticity, with reactions ranging from disbelief to amusement.
Unprecedented Monkey Infiltration of Campus Buildings
The incident occurred at National Chung Hsing University in Taichung, Taiwan. A student filming the dormitory building captured footage of a large troop of monkeys rapidly moving down the exterior walls. The video showed the animals scaling the building’s facade with remarkable agility, with many congregating in the open spaces around the building’s base even after reaching the ground floor. The sheer number of monkeys clinging to the walls created a striking visual, likened by some online commentators to a highly trained special forces unit scaling a structure.
The images and videos quickly went viral on social media platforms. Netizens expressed astonishment, with comments including, “I thought it was an AI-generated video because it was so unbelievable,” and “The monkeys are coming down like a caterpillar.” Others humorously referred to the monkeys as a “special forces unit” or the “Chung Hsing University Special Forces,” with one person even comparing the scene to the “reappearance of Monkey King’s army.”
A Recurring Issue on Campus
This is not the first time wild monkeys have been observed on the National Chung Hsing University campus. The university’s location, nestled near the Guanshan mountain area in Taichung, means its campus significantly overlaps with the natural habitat of Formosan rock macaques, commonly known as Taiwanese monkeys. Consequently, these wild animals frequently appear in various parts of the campus, including near buildings, along roads, and in parking lots, sometimes venturing into areas frequented by students.
Reports from local media indicate that during the recent academic year’s opening, monkeys were seen approaching new students, snatching food, or even approaching them directly. Some monkeys were observed peering into dormitory rooms through open windows, leading to lighthearted jokes among students about them being “seniors who have just completed their dorm inspection.”
University Issues Guidance for Student Safety
In response to these encounters, the university has issued specific guidelines to students on how to behave when encountering monkeys. The primary advice emphasizes not feeding the animals and maintaining a safe distance. Students are instructed to store food and drinks inside their bags to prevent them from being easily visible to the monkeys. Furthermore, provoking or chasing the monkeys is strongly discouraged.
The university also highlighted the potential for aggressive behavior from the monkeys, particularly if they feel threatened or are startled. Students are warned that attempting to snatch back food or reacting defensively when a monkey approaches too closely could escalate the situation into a physical confrontation. Such aggressive actions by monkeys can be dangerous and require caution.
To prevent monkeys from entering dormitory rooms or other campus buildings, the university has stressed the importance of keeping windows closed. This measure aims to create a physical barrier and reduce the likelihood of direct interaction between students and the wild macaques, thereby enhancing the safety and comfort of the campus community.
The presence of wildlife on university campuses, especially in areas adjacent to natural habitats, presents unique challenges. While these encounters can be startling, they also serve as a reminder of the importance of coexistence and respecting the natural environment. The university’s proactive approach in providing safety guidelines aims to mitigate risks and ensure a secure learning environment for all students and staff.
