BADUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – Sangeh Monkey Forest, also known as Alas Pala, has reopened to visitors during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, with management emphasizing enhanced safety measures, including insurance coverage for tourists.
The nature-based attraction, known for its nutmeg forest and free-roaming monkeys, confirmed that visitor protection has long been in place to mitigate risks associated with wildlife interactions, such as scratches or bites. The same insurance coverage also applies to all staff members.
Chairman of the Sangeh Monkey Forest management, Ida Bagus Gede Pujawan, said the site is fully operational after cleanup efforts were completed following recent incident.
“The site has reopened after cleaning work, and we are ensuring visitor safety,” he said on Friday (December 26, 2025).
Pujawan acknowledged that incidents related to interactions with monkeys cannot be entirely avoided at wildlife-based attractions. To address this, the management provides insurance coverage for visitors.
“As a wildlife-based destination, potential incidents typically involve scratches or bites. That is why insurance coverage has been prepared at Sangeh Monkey Forest,” he explained.
For medical response, the management has coordinated with the Badung Health Office, designating Abiansemal Community Health Center as the primary rabies referral center. Visitors who experience bites or injuries are transported directly to the facility for further treatment.
“In the event of an incident, we immediately take the visitor to Abiansemal Community Health Center for medical care,” Pujawan said.
Beyond initial treatment, the insurance policy also covers more serious outcomes, including permanent injury and, in the worst-case scenario, death though management stressed such outcomes are not expected to occur. The coverage is part of the operator’s broader commitment to visitor safety.
During the Christmas and New Year holiday period, management reported that visitor numbers have begun to pick up and expressed optimism for continued recovery. “We hope to see a steady increase in visits as tourism activity continues to rebound,” Pujawan added.