THE sun had just risen from the horizon. There was a lingering smell of earth and morning dew. Dozens of clean-furred monkeys swung from branch to branch. Their cries broke the silence among the grove of cassia trees in Ujung Pacu village, Dewantara, Lhokseumawe. Separated from the forest by only a fence, within minutes the PT Arun housing area in Batuphat Village was quickly breached by the troop of monkeys.

Perching on rooftops, the monkeys ap