Wild monkeys egged on by YouTubers have been rampaging at Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat complex, attacking tourists, wrecking temple stonework and damaging information boards, officials said Wednesday.

Angkor Wat, the UNESCO world heritage site in Cambodia is facing an unexpected threat from YouTubers. In a bid to create viral content, some creators have been feeding and provoking the temple’s resident monkeys.

Cambodian authorities have issued a warning about the growing number of aggressive monkeys in the Angkor Wat area, and have urged the public to avoid feeding or interacting with them. “Recently, the number of monkeys in the Angkor Archaeological Park has increased significantly,

Tourists visit the Angkor Wat Temple at the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Jan. 29, 2025. (Photo by Sao Khuth/Xinhua) Tourists visit the Angkor Wat Temple at the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Jan. 29, 2025. (Photo by Sao Khuth/Xinhua)

At Angkor Wat and other temple ruins nearby, macaque monkeys fed by YouTubers creating videos are stealing visitors’ food and injuring them.

The agency that runs the UNESCO-listed site warned visitors to steer clear of the growing gangs of "aggressive" macaques that live around the sprawling complex of ruins and have been biting tourists.