Before volunteering with LPP, if you asked me what studying monkeys is like, I’d envision crouching behind bushes deep in the jungle, trying my best to stay out of sight of my specimens. Imagine my surprise when my study site turned out to be a regular suburb.

As I would soon discover, the langurs were quite used to their unexpected habitat. The group walked, climbed and leaped wherever the trees took them and otherwise crossed over rooftops or electric cables. They didn’t even care about us or other people; once one of them just ran on the ground right next to me! Throughout my volunteering sessions, the langurs brought me to all corners of the neighbourhood, my adventurous little tour guides!

While observing them, it really surprised me how the group’s individuals appeared to act like humans. They each seemed to have their own personalities and quirks: the angsty youth always running off on his own, the playful youngest sibling, the old, wizened elder. Just like human kids, the younger ones were constantly curious about their surroundings – often staring directly at us with a question on their faces – while the older ones had more important things to care about. Together they formed something akin to a big family. 

Besides the star attractions, I also found myself enamoured with the supporting cast of the langurs’ adventure: trees! Studying the langurs made me finally take a hard look at the little patches of green nestled between buildings. There was so much varied plant life I had never appreciated before: tall raintrees, fishtail palms and bucida trees providing much-needed shade, yummy bananas, wild figs and so many more species I can’t even name. It made me realise how resilient plants are and gave me hope that these beautiful trees – and even the langurs – could survive all the damage humanity has wrought.

All in all, joining LPP allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and discover so many fascinating things. It also helped me fulfil my quota for social interaction while on break, even if it was just listening to uncles and aunties complaining about the monkeys eating their fruits. I am incredibly grateful I got to see a different facet of Penang before I say goodbye to it. Thank you to the delightful people I met on my volunteering journey (many of whom helped drive my carless self around). I will miss all of you and our beloved langurs greatly. Au revoir!

Signing off,

Alia