Bali Monkey Attack Leaves Young Aussie Tourist Injured

On 2025-10-21, a 12-year-old Australian girl was bitten on the neck by a monkey while visiting Bali's Monkey Forest Ubud with her family. The family had traveled to Bali to celebrate Australian Father's Day and were sitting in an amphitheater when the incident occurred.

According to the girl's mother, Flavia McDonald, a monkey suddenly jumped onto the father's shoulder and then moved on to the young girl, pulling at her shirt and pockets before biting her on the neck. The mother was shocked by the quick and unexpected attack.

Park officials claimed the monkeys were clean and that the girl did not require a rabies vaccine. However, the mother was not convinced and took her daughter to a local clinic, where she received two shots for the bite. The medical treatment cost the family over $4,100.

Experts warn that human-wildlife encounters, whether provoked or not, can often lead to injuries or even fatalities. In some cases, authorities may capture and euthanize the wild animal, contributing to population depletion and hindering conservation efforts. The increasing number of wildlife species being driven from their natural habitats due to climate change is also a contributing factor to these dangerous encounters.