Monkey Attack in Bali Leaves Young Tourist with Serious Neck Injuries

A 12-year-old Australian girl was left with serious neck injuries after being bitten by a monkey during a family holiday in Bali.

Lorena McDonald, from Sydney, was visiting the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud when the incident occurred. According to her mother, Flavia, the family had followed all visitor guidelines and carried nothing that might attract the animals.

The attack happened suddenly: a monkey jumped onto her husband’s shoulder before leaping onto Lorena and biting her neck. “It started pulling at her shirt and bag. Within five seconds, it had bitten her,” Flavia said.

Lorena required rabies vaccinations, but the family was shocked by the cost — 60 million rupiah (about US$3,600) at a local clinic. They hope their travel insurance will reimburse part of the expense.

This is not the first such case. In 2019, a Melbourne photographer was also bitten in the neck by a monkey in Ubud, requiring medical treatment that cost around US$8,000 — fortunately covered by insurance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that rabies causes an estimated 59,000 deaths annually, mostly in regions with low vaccination coverage. Monkey bites in areas like Bali pose a significant rabies risk if the animal is infected.

Following the incident, Lorena’s mother urged tourists — especially families with children — to be extra cautious when visiting monkey sanctuaries.