Terrifying moment a woman in Ubud tries to rescue her passport before it was shredded by an aggressive monkey at famous Bali tourist spot
A terrified tourist who was robbed by a monkey could do nothing but watch helplessly as the animal began to devour her passport.
The Portuguese woman had her passport confiscated at the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali unbeknownst to her, and by the time she noticed the monkey was already gnawing on it.
Bystanders filmed the encounter as the woman tried in vain to trade a piece of paper in exchange for her critical document.
As she pushed the offering to the thieving monkey sitting atop a railing, another crept up from behind and startled her.
A terrified Portuguese tourist desperately tried to get her passport back from a monkey who stole it in the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali
The clip has been uploaded to the Idiots from Bali The Instagram page and comments section were a potent mix of disbelief and sympathy.
“Don’t play gangster,” one man wrote.
“I should trade bananas for them,” suggested a second.
“Who carry their passports everywhere,” asked a third.
“At least she has the video as proof of immigration,” said a fourth.
A local resident noted that even slightly damaged passports are rejected by customs, so the woman’s half-eaten passport would have been useless even if recovered.
The monkey forests throughout Indonesia are known for the infamous sticky fingers of their inhabitants and the insurance claims from tourists are staggering.
The woman tried to trade the monkey a piece of paper in exchange for the crucial document before another monkey crawled up and startled her
Recent data shows Australians have claimed almost $17,000 in lost property due to Bali’s monkeys over the past five years.
The most expensive claim came from a traveler whose entire bag was stolen by a monkey in Uluwatu, containing their hearing aids, phone and money.
The Managing Director of Southern Cross Travel Insurance, Jo McCauley said while the animals are cute, they are also cunning.
“While they may seem charming and endearing, it is crucial to be careful and alert during your visit to avoid running into an accident,” she says. told news.com.au.
‘Maintain a respectful distance and avoid direct eye contact as this could be interpreted as a threat.
‘Securing your belongings is just as important. Monkeys are known for their curiosity and will not hesitate to grab food, sunglasses or anything shiny that catches their attention. Hold on to your bags, hats and sunglasses to avoid accidents.’