An obese Thai monkey who gorged himself on junk food has been rescued and placed on a strict diet.
He was roaming free on the streets of Thailand, gorging himself on junk food and fizzy drinks left behind by tourists.
When photos of him started circulating on social media, wildlife officials decided to act.
Most of Macaques weigh around 20 pounds while Uncle Fat weighs three times that.
(Photo: PA)
“It was not easy to catch him,” said Kacha Phukem, the wildlife official who conducted the capture and rescue.
“He was the leader of his pack, and when I tried to go in, I had to fight off a flock of them with sticks.”
The subordinate monkeys fed into Uncle Fat’s bad habits.
“He had minions and other monkeys bringing food for him but he would also redistribute it to younger monkeys,” said Supakarn Kaewchot, a vet in charge of the monkey’s diet. “He is now in a critical condition where there is a high-risk of heart disease and diabetes.”
(Photo: PA)
To help him lose weight he has been placed on a strict diet of lean protein, fruit and vegetables.
Wildlife officials hope that within a few months they can consider releasing him back into the wild.