TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung’s Shoushan Zoo and the city’s tourism department announced a range of new measures to promote the peaceful coexistence of humans and monkeys on Saturday (Aug. 24).

The director of Kaohsiung's tourism department Kao Min-lin (高閔琳) said the Formosan rock macaques living around the zoo are endemic to Taiwan, and are popular among tourists because of their cute appearance and intelligence, per CNA. Kao said people should not feed the monkeys, but many have been doing so, which has meant they are moving closer to places of human activity.

“No contact, no feeding, no interference” are the most basic rules for dealing with the macaques, the zoo said. It noted that people who feed the monkeys are liable to be fined up to NT$10,000 (US$314).

In addition to promoting the no-feeding rule, monkey-proof rubbish bins and rental services for monkey-proof bags will be rolled out. Kao said the rental bags are made of canvas, and unlike plastic or paper bags, will not be mistaken by the monkeys as food containers.

Volunteers from the Taiwan Macaque Coexistence Promotion Association will also be enlisted to guide tourists around monkey hot spots, Kao said.