A video showing a monkey sitting quietly on the back of a motorbike, its arms wrapped tightly around the rider, has attracted millions of interactions on social media in recent days.
The footage prompted widespread curiosity about the animal's unusual behaviour. While some viewers suggested the monkey was accustomed to human contact, others believed it had just experienced a frightening encounter.
Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews, Chau Ngoc Duy, a resident of Son Tra Ward in Danang who posted the video, said the incident happened on November 3 while he was travelling to work at a resort on Son Tra Peninsula.
Near Linh Ung Pagoda, Duy spotted a monkey being attacked by two dogs in an area where local residents grow trees. Seeing the animal in distress, he stopped his motorbike and chased the dogs away.
The frightened monkey immediately jumped onto his motorbike to escape.
Concerned that it might be attacked again if left behind, Duy decided to take it to the area where he worked so it could be released back into the forest.
He said the monkey appeared to be extremely frightened after being chased and bitten by the dogs, remaining still throughout the journey with both arms wrapped tightly around him.
Duy added that monkeys were common around his workplace and that he regularly encountered them. Nevertheless, he was surprised that the animal had voluntarily clung to him and maintained the same position until they reached safety.
The monkey clung tightly to the man on the motorbike after being attacked by dogs (Video: Duy Ngoc).
Previously, the Son Tra Peninsula and Danang Tourism Beaches Management Board had repeatedly advised residents and visitors not to feed wild monkeys, warning that doing so could alter their natural feeding behaviour.
Once accustomed to food supplied by humans, particularly sweets and confectionery, monkeys may gradually lose their ability to forage naturally in the forest. They may also develop habits of approaching residential areas, roads and tourist vehicles in search of food or attempting to snatch it.
If their demands are not met, the animals may become aggressive and bite or attack people.
The rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) is a common primate species on Son Tra Peninsula.
Under Government Decree 32/2006/ND-CP, issued on March 30, 2006, the species is classified in Group IIB, covering endangered and rare forest animals subject to restricted exploitation and use.
Rhesus macaques live in groups of 10-15 individuals, typically led by a dominant male. They are active during the day and move both on the ground and through trees.
