A monkey twice its normal size due to frequenting fast food restaurants is rescued by animal protection officers from a market.
Godzilla, a 3-year-old long-tailed monkey, weighs up to 20kg because he’s chained to a stall in Bangkok, Thailand, and regularly eats fast food from tourists. His case is very similar to that of another famous monkey named Uncle Fatty, who died in 2019 as a result of overeating.
Wildlife officers visit a market in Bangkok’s Min Buri district after widespread concerns have been raised over Godzilla’s health. They discovered that the monkey was tied to the stall with a rope that was too tight. The authorities decided to take the monkey to the weight loss center. There he will follow a strict diet, exercise and prepare for release into the wild.
“We received concerns about the monkey’s condition. We found its owner. He said his family had fed him so much that he became obese. Sometimes people go there. The market has seen the pretty. monkey and fed it as well. It has become a favorite at the market, “said Navee Changpirom, director of forestry at Thailand’s National Parks Ministry.
Godzilla owner Manop Emsan said the monkey’s parents were killed by a car when he was young and the previous owner had abandoned him. He kept the monkey as a pet even though it was against the rules. Emsan feeds him fast food all day while selling meatballs at the stall. Market goers also stopped by and fed the monkey fruits, nuts, candy, and sugary drinks.
Wildlife officer Phuwanak Krumnoi said the monkey is severely overweight and needs to lose weight as soon as possible. The owner of the monkey is still allowed to visit Godzilla, but he will be released back into the wild so he can interact with other monkeys.
At his current weight, Godzilla is as big as Uncle Fatty, a 27-kilo monkey at his heaviest weight. Uncle Fatty became obese from frequent snacking by tourists at the Khun Kala Floating Market in Bangkok. It was caught to lose weight in 2017. But the monkey quickly reverted to his old ways when he returned to town. He was last seen by someone in June 2019. Authorities believe Uncle Fatty later died.
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