Monkeys break into Yishun primary school, causing teachers & students to hole up in classrooms to keep safe

Singapore — The entrance of monkeys into the grounds at a primary school in Yishun last week caused the teachers and students to lock themselves into classrooms while the animal was on the loose.

Monkeys had been seen near Chongfu School on Wednesday (Feb 16), prompting school authorities to warn parents, reported Shin Min Daily News on Feb 19.

One parent of a student at the school told the Chinese daily that the students were told to avoid the areas where the monkeys had been seen and that the school had assigned extra staff to watch out for the animals.

While some monkeys can be gentle, they can also be unpredictable and can turn aggressive quickly. Monkeys are known to bite or scratch humans when provoked and can transfer disease.

On Feb 17 (Thursday) a monkey was seen climbing up the four-story school building and onto its roof.

The parent told Shin Min Daily News that he was unsure if there was just one monkey or several, as the school had not yet commented on the incident.

But as long-tailed macaques, the only commonly seen species of monkey in Singapore, travel in troops, it’s likely that there was more than one monkey that was able to enter the Yishun school.

Additionally, a domestic helper of a family whose child attends the school told the Chinese daily that the animals were able to leave the building when a security guard later opened a door to let them out.

The helper said that the children she cares for told her that three monkeys had gotten stuck in one of the school’s restrooms.

Yet another parent who Shin Min Daily News spoke to said that his son, 9, had seen the monkey going up to the roof and that the boy’s friend screamed when he saw it. 

The Chinese daily spoke to the boy, who said that the principal told the teachers over the public announcement system to shut all doors and windows of each classroom.

But when break time came, the children were allowed to go out of their rooms.

Wildlife rights group ACRES (Animal Concerns Research and Education Society) released a video on YouTube about macaques on Friday (Feb 18) as part of its “Coexistence with Our Wild Neighbours” series.

In it, DJ and social media influencer Jade Rasif talks about how to interact with macaques safely.

“We see them on our walks in the park. And increasingly, they come to visit Singapore’s residents around our residential estates. They live in complex social groups, protect their young, and communicate with a variety of facial expressions. Sounds familiar?  Yes that’s right – macaques are not that different from you and me.”

ACRES appealed to Singaporeans to “be better neighbours to these intelligent creatures” this year.

/TISG

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