Hat theft, hair chewing and other monkey affairs: the joyous chaos of Thailand’s annual holiday of 1,000 hungry macaques
- Lopburi in central Thailand has hosted its annual Monkey Buffet Festival since the late 1980s
- As part of the festival, the city is piling tables with up to two tonnes of fruit and vegetables for the monkey’s enjoyment
- Monkeys have a special taste for durian, a tangy tropical fruit, organizers say
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Their table manners were shocking, but the guests of honor at a special banquet in the Thai town of Lopburi recently loved having fun.
Lopburi has held an annual fruit festival for its macaque population since the late 1980s, part religious tradition and part tourist attraction.
This year’s Monkey Buffet Festival saw around 1,000 hungry simians descend on tables and wheelchairs filled with fruit outside the city’s 800-year-old Pra Prang Sam Yod temple.
In this photo, macaques feast on a pile of fresh fruits and vegetables against the backdrop of the 800-year-old Pra Prang Sam Yod temple.
Organizer Yongyuth Kitwatananusont said the monkeys have a particular taste for durian, the tangy tropical fruit you love or hate popular across Southeast Asia.
There has always been immense respect for monkeys in Thailand. The animals appear in the ancient tale of Rama, who could not have saved his wife Sita from the clutches of a demon lord without the help of Monkey King Hanuman and his army.
Organizer Yongyuth Kitwatananusont said monkeys have a particular taste for durian, the pungent tropical fruit you love or hate popular across Southeast Asia.
The Covid restrictions meant last year’s party lacked its usual crowd of spectators, but this year humans were back in force, with more than 100 spectators coming to see the furry fruit fanatics.
And the cheeky monkeys were keen to reconnect with their distant cousins, scaling onlookers, stealing hats, chewing long hair, and biting occasionally.
It is believed that up to two tonnes of food is consumed by the monkeys at the Monkey Buffet Festival each year.
Over 1,000 hungry simians showed up at the 2021 Monkey Buffet Festival in the Thai town of Lopburi, 150 kilometers (93 miles) north of Bangkok
During the Monkey Buffet Festival, macaques can be seen to quench their thirst by drinking bottled mineral water and juice
Covid restrictions meant the 2020 Monkey Buffet Festival lacked its usual crowd of spectators, but this year humans were back in force, with more than 100 spectators coming to see the furry fruit fanatics.
There has always been immense respect for monkeys in Thailand. The animals appear in the ancient tale of Rama, who could not have saved his wife Sita from the clutches of a demon lord without the help of Monkey King Hanuman and his army.
Today, many Thais consider monkeys to be an emblem of good luck and prosperity.
Traditionally, the Monkey Buffet Festival begins with an opening ceremony in which humans dress up as monkeys and perform dances.
Lopburi macaques are not afraid of humans. During this year’s Monkey Buffet Festival, monkeys were seen climbing over onlookers, like the photographer pictured above.
In this image, a group of adult monkeys and their babies are shown waiting their turn to get stuck in the fruits and vegetables offered during the Monkey Buffet
Lopburi has held its annual fruit festival for its macaque population since the late 1980s
Then the food offerings are revealed and the monkeys get stuck in everything from lettuce leaves and pineapple chunks to watermelon.
This year, some monkeys were even photographed drinking from mineral water and juice bottles.
It is believed that up to two tons of food is consumed by the monkeys at the Monkey Buffet Festival each year.
Monkeys are considered to be emblems of good luck and prosperity in the city of Lopburi
Monkeys are stuck in everything from lettuce leaves and cucumbers to pineapple chunks, watermelon slices and bananas during the Monkey Buffet Festival
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