Sydney family warns of Bali monkey danger after daughter's neck bite leads to rabies treatment

A Sydney family’s trip to Bali turned alarming when their 12-year-old daughter Lorena was bitten on the neck by a monkey at a popular Ubud sanctuary, prompting rabies treatment and a medical bill that ran into the thousands of dollars.

Flavia McDonald, her husband and Lorena traveled to Bali for a last-minute break over Father’s Day weekend in search of sun after Sydney’s rainy spell. They planned a half-day visit to the monkey forest in Ubud, hoping to finish before a forecast afternoon storm.

At the sanctuary, the family followed posted safety guidelines as best as they could. A crowd had formed around a seating area when a monkey jumped from the crowd onto the father’s shoulders, then onto Lorena. She was visibly terrified as the primate pulled at her shirt and pockets; within seconds, it bit her neck. "She was paralyzed [in fear] and we kind of knew we couldn’t make any abrupt movements," the mother recalled. The bite punctured the skin and drew blood, but Lorena remained in shock and could not feel pain in the moment.

First aid staff at the sanctuary told the family there was no need to pursue rabies concerns and suggested washing the wound with water and soap, according to McDonald. "They kept saying we don’t need to worry," she said, noting there were other visitors nearby but no staff actively supervising the interaction. With her daughter in shock and the bite clearly open, McDonald’s research had indicated a rabies risk that warranted medical attention, not simple first aid.

By the time the family located the nearest clinic with a rabies vaccine, Lorena was in real distress. The medical bill for the injections totaled about USD 4,165.69 (69 million Indonesian Rupiah). Although the couple had travel insurance, the emergency nature of the situation delayed fund release, forcing McDonald to cover the cost upfront.

The clinic administered four injections in total—two rabies vaccines and two additional injections—arranged as one injection at the top of the bite, one at the bottom, and one in the arm and one in the leg. Lorena also received antiviral medication for herpes B infection, with six tablets daily for two weeks. Her mother described watching her daughter scream during one injection administered near the bite site.

Public health warnings have underscored Bali’s rabies risk in recent months. Authorities have reported rabies-positive animals in red-zone areas such as South Kuta, Nusa-Dua, Tanjung Benoa, Jimbara and Changgu, and clinics have been mobilized to vaccinate both humans and animals as part of containment efforts. Smart Traveller and other advisories have urged travelers to consider pre-exposure vaccination, especially for wildlife encounters, and to seek immediate medical care after any potential exposure.

The McDonalds’ experience has prompted the family to speak out in hopes of raising awareness among other travelers. Lorena’s mother said the trip was meant to be a family surprise and an opportunity for sun after persistent rain, but the episode has left the family wary of wildlife interactions in Bali. "If I had read anything like this, I would’ve had a different approach to going to the park," she said, adding that the event ruined the visit and underscored the importance of vaccination and prompt medical care.

As travel health guidance evolves, officials reiterate that wildlife encounters can carry serious risks, and that vaccination before travel—especially to regions with known rabies transmission—can be a critical preventive measure. Travelers are advised to heed safety instructions at wildlife venues, monitor for bites or scratches after exposures, and seek immediate medical evaluation for potential rabies exposure, regardless of initial perceptions about animal cleanliness or park supervision.

In Bali, the health authorities’ ongoing response to rabies has included vaccination campaigns for dogs and public education campaigns for travelers. The combination of high visitor volumes and wildlife interactions means precautionary steps—such as vaccinations, avoiding eye contact with animals, and leaving wildlife encounters to trained staff—remain essential. The case from Sydney serves as a reminder that health considerations can affect travel experiences and budgets, and that timely medical care can prevent more serious consequences from animal bites.