Monkey love

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA – Don’t feed the monkeys. No, seriously. \nLast weekend, I was lucky enough to spend a day wandering through Manuel Antonio National Park, a protected area in the South Pacific comprised of virgin forests, immaculate beaches and a coral reef. \nI had been pretty excited about going all week, especially since my travel guidebook promised it was nearly impossible to go into the park and not see monkeys. Now, I’m not exactly sure why we as humans are so fascinated with monkeys. It’s actually quite bizarre. As breathtaking as the entire area was, just about everyone entering the park was talking about how they were absolutely dying to see a monkey.\nMaybe it’s because they look so human. Maybe it’s because they’re fuzzy – and even somewhat endearing. Whatever the reason is, this odd preoccupation has been fundamental in preserving what little remains of the world’s natural ecosystems.\nTruthfully, with environmental degradation running full speed ahead, it is absolutely imperative to get people interested in the welfare of the earth as a whole. The general public has such a stake in the environment, but people often fail to realize it. So if people want to minimize their impact on the environment so cute, fuzzy monkeys can continue to exist for posterity to gaze at, that’s OK. \nIn the past, people have taken more of a hands-off approach to managing the environment. Natural areas were roped off. Now, however, conservationists are beginning to realize that people need to have direct contact with natural areas in order to fully appreciate them. For example, a few summers ago, I worked with an agency that was founded by crazy southern duck hunters who worked to protect wetlands so that future generations of crazy southern duck hunters could continue to hunt ducks. Go figure. I’m a faithful vegetarian, so that kind of disturbed me at first. But I soon came to terms with the fact that it doesn’t matter why people want to protect the environment; what matters is the end result, not the means to it.\nStill, taking a more involved approach to environmental protection requires restraint and care. Even though there were signs all over Manuel Antonio warning visitors — in several languages — not to feed the monkeys, both visitors and guides alike seemed to have no problem sharing their tortilla chips with them. Feeding them is unhealthy for the monkeys and compromises their ability to find their own food. As it is, they have become somewhat dependent on visitors, and because of that, they have no problem coming close and stealing tourists’ cameras and water bottles (Serves them right!).\nSo, find your own stake in the environment. Whether it’s the economic potential of the ecotourism industry or carbon markets, a hankering to go zip-lining across the rainforest canopy, a hope for keeping our air and water clean or a simple desire to watch crabs scuttle across the beach and gaze at monkeys, make it your own. And invest yourself in it. Promise me one thing, though, OK?\nDon’t feed the monkeys. Thanks.