By: Kate Serrano
Approximately an hour from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia we see an
interesting series of caves dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war and
victory. The first thing that greets tourists when getting there is the tallest
statue of the deity followed by a 272-step
staircase that you have to climb to get to the cave’s entrance. More
interestingly as you make your way through the steep steps you meet a few
playful and cheeky friends; quite a handful of macaque monkeys have made this
place their home.
Some would be scared as they may jump off bags and steal
food. They can also hurt you when threatened so the best advice: keep calm.
Macaques are the most widespread of their kind, living in different habitats
all over the planet. It is fascinating to know too that these monkeys are not
only found in natural habitats like the Batu caves. They also abound in zoos,
kept as pets and in research facilities. Yes, these monkeys have been a great
help to science in medical and biological research.
Apparently humans and
macaques are 93% similar in DNA structure so thanks to these primates, the
development of vaccines for smallpox, tuberculosis, rabies and polio are made possible.
And in more recent studies, macaques have been tested for advanced AIDS
research.
It will not be surprising to know that there may be a cure to almost
anything in the future! However, along with these medical advances and health
benefits come research ethics and conservation issues. The question of the
exposure of animals to harm and the depletion of their wild population are just
some of the things brought up on the table. At this point, public support is
much needed to break the barrier of pros and cons. How do we balance out care
for animals and care for humans? Simple answer. Social responsibility.
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