Uploaded April 2014 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
The ancient Buddhist temple of Swayambhunath sits on top of a hill in West Kathmandu and is one of the most important holy sites in Nepal. Swayambhunath is also known as the "Monkey Temple" due to the abundance of monkeys living on the temple grounds.
The monkeys living here, the Rhesus Macaques [Macaca mulatta], also called Rhesus monkeys, are considered sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. They are often provided with food and, when falling sick, with medical care.
"These temple sites are a perfect example of how monkeys and humans live together in such high densities," says Dr. Tierra Smiley, who has come to Nepal to train local field scientists in non-invasive techniques of collecting saliva from the monkeys living in these areas.
The ancient Buddhist temple of Swayambhunath sits on top of a hill in West Kathmandu and is one of the most important holy sites in Nepal. Swayambhunath is also known as the "Monkey Temple" due to the abundance of monkeys living on the temple grounds.
The monkeys living here, the Rhesus Macaques [Macaca mulatta], also called Rhesus monkeys, are considered sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. They are often provided with food and, when falling sick, with medical care.
"These temple sites are a perfect example of how monkeys and humans live together in such high densities," says Dr. Tierra Smiley, who has come to Nepal to train local field scientists in non-invasive techniques of collecting saliva from the monkeys living in these areas.
