Wild Thai monkeys are feeling the effects of low tourism.
In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, tourism in Thailand has dropped to such low levels that monkeys have started to fight for food in the streets.
In a video filmed this week in Lopburi, north-east of Bangkok, countless monkeys can be seen invading the streets in search of something to eat.
A local man then throws a yogurt pot into the troop, prompting the primates to viciously attack one another.
“It’s the summer, so usually we see a lot of tourists, but now because of the outbreak there’s so few that the markets are very quiet. Not enough tourists come to leave food for the monkeys at Prang Sam Yod [temple],” Sasaluk Rattanachai, who shared the video on Facebook, said.
The monkeys are normally well fed by tourists, often stealing snacks from the unsuspecting holidaymakers.
One social media user commented: “That’s the reason why feeding wild animals & birds should be strictly avoided. They lose their natural ability to find food & become dependent on the people feeding them.”
The coronavirus outbreak is a severe blow to Thailand’s tourism industry, which is crucial to the country’s already struggling economy.
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