A troop of wild monkeys descended on a supermarket in Thailand, making a swift escape with a stash of bananas in an unusual theft.
Venturing away from their usual forested hunting grounds, the monkeys targeted a 7-11 store, grabbing as many bananas as they could. Footage of the event reveals the monkeys going through plastic containers, swiftly uncovering them, seizing food, and then scampering away in turns.
Attempts by store employees to shoo the monkeys away were futile, as the primates calmly perched on overhead wires, just out of reach.
An eyewitness relayed to Viral Press that there have been instances where the monkeys have boldly tried to enter the shop, especially if the staff doesn't secure the entrance in time. These audacious monkeys have even snatched food directly from unsuspecting tourists.
"Luckily, they haven’t overrun the island yet," he commented, alluding to Koh Phi Phi island, the location of the recorded video and frequent site of such monkey encounters.
Thailand has grappled with a minor surge of wild monkeys in urban areas, predominantly the macaque species. Although these primates are roughly two feet in height and tip the scales at a mere 15 pounds, they display assertive behavior and often move in packs.
In recent times, these monkeys have become more audacious, targeting humans and seizing any food within their reach. Trip Savvy notes that they can inflict injuries that may necessitate hospital visits.
On the mainland, Lopburi city dwellers were inadvertently thrust into the midst of a skirmish involving hundreds of monkeys from two competing factions. These clashes, sometimes over sustenance and at other times over turf, have escalated significantly. For instance, in March 2020, a dispute arose over a solitary banana, and in 2021, a contest ensued over occupancy rights at a Buddhist temple, as documented by Metro.
The extended and widespread lockdowns in the country might have inadvertently created an environment for the monkeys to flourish, leading them to confidently roam urban spaces, suggested a government veterinarian. The official further elucidated that prior to the pandemic, these primates had grown accustomed to being fed by tourists.
"With the tourists gone, they’ve been more aggressive," Supakarn Kaewchot remarked in 2021. "They’re invading buildings and forcing people to flee their homes."
In response, recent initiatives by the government have focused on population control measures such as establishing monkey reserves, implementing large-scale sterilization efforts, relocating habitats, and educating the public on appropriate interactions with these animals.
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