Sichuan authorities issued a decision in early May to ban a Chinese tourist from visiting the Emei Mountain (Mount Emei) scenic area for three years. This action followed a video recording of the individual pushing a long-tailed monkey.
The video shows a monkey sitting on a railing on the path up Mount Emei, eating fruit. A male tourist approached, unexpectedly pushing the animal with his hand. The impact caused the monkey to stumble and almost fall, while the man ran off, laughing.
The management confirmed that the incident occurred in an area without dangerous cliffs. They identified the tourist, who admitted fault.
Many viewers criticized the tourist's behavior after watching the video, viewing it as endangering the animal's life by attempting to push it off a cliff. Opinions suggested the three-year ban was "too lenient" and "lacking deterrence."
Video of a tourist playing with and pushing a long-tailed monkey. Video: Newsflare/SCMP.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the monkey pushed in the video is a Tibetan macaque, a nationally protected species in China. A lawyer in Sichuan province stated that if the push had killed the animal, the tourist could face significant fines and potentially criminal charges.
This is not an isolated incident of tourists being penalized for interacting with wild animals during travel. Previously, on 5/5, 38-year-old American tourist Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk threw a large rock at a seal while visiting Hawaii. Lytvynchuk currently faces charges of harassment and intentional harassment of a Hawaiian monk seal.
If convicted, Lytvynchuk could face up to one year in prison for each charge. Additionally, Lytvynchuk faces fines of up to 50,000 USD under the Endangered Species Act and 20,000 USD under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Emei Mountain, located on the peak of the mountain of the same name, is home to numerous temples, making it a sacred Buddhist destination. The most prominent feature of this scenic area is the Leshan Giant Buddha, which stands 71 meters tall. It was carved into the mountainside in the 8th century and overlooks the confluence of three rivers.
The Leshan Giant Buddha carved into Lingyun Mountain, opposite Emei Mountain, east of Leshan city. Video: Smithsonian Channel, Phuong China Vlog, Tung Thanh Ly Vietnam, Institute for Planets.
Emei Mountain is also renowned for its diverse vegetation, ranging from subtropical to high-altitude pine forests, with some trees over 1,000 years old. In 1996, UNESCO designated the site a World Heritage site.
Anh Minh (Source: SCMP, UNESCO).
