CHUNKY MONKEY
A MORBIDLY obese monkey who ballooned to twice his normal size gorging on junk food has been rescued and sent to a fat camp.
Godzilla, a three-year-old macaque, swelled to 20kg (44lb) after being tied to a market stall and given treats by visitors in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Video of the portly primate this week drew comparisons with another famous monkey called Uncle Fatty, who died in 2019 after being overfed by humans.
Wildlife officials visited the market in the Min Buri district of Bangkok after concerns were raised for Godzilla's health.
They found the monkey was tethered to a stall by an ill-fitting harness.
Officials carried him away in a cage yesterday afternoon.
He will new be sent to a fat camp, where he will be put on a strict diet, made to exercise and prepared for a return to the wild.
Navee Changpirom, forestry chief at Thailand's Department of National Parks, said: "We received a report from someone who was concerned about the health of the monkey.
"Our investigation then found the owner. He said that he brought the monkey home and took great care of it like one of his family own members.
"He and his family fed the monkey so well that it became fat.
"Sometimes market-goers would find the monkey cute and would also feed it. The monkey became a favourite attraction at the market."
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Godzilla's owner Manop Emsan said the monkey's parents were killed by a car when he was a baby and a previous owner had abandoned him.
He kept the monkey as a pet - illegal under the country's wildlife laws - and let him snack all day while he ran his stall selling meatballs.
Passing shoppers would also stop and feed the monkey fruit, nuts, sweets and sugary syrup drinks.
Wildlife official Phuwanak Krumnoi, who helped to collect Gozdilla, said he is "critically obese" and needs to go on a diet as soon as possible.
Former owner Manop will be allowed to visit Godzilla while he is being cared for but he will ultimately have to be released back into woodland, where he can interact with other monkeys.
Devastated Manop said: "Godzilla is like a son to me. He's part of the family.
"He won't eat if he's not with us, he becomes moody and sad. I'm worried he won't survive."
Forestry chief Navee Changpirom added: "The monkey was handed over to the National Park team to take care of him and prevent him from gaining more weight.
"We have to remind people that if they find a wild monkey they should never keep them.
"The correct step is to call the local police and wait for officials to collect the animal and give proper care."
Godzilla now weighs more than 20kg - almost as big as viral star Uncle Fatty, who tipped the scales at 27kg at his heaviest.
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Uncle Fatty grew an enormous belly after being fed sugary snacks by tourists at the Khun Kala floating market in Bangkok.
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He was sent to a fat camp to slim down in 2017.
But he returned to his old habits after returning to the city, and was last seen in June 2019 before going missing and presumed dead.
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Greedy obese monkey sent to fat camp after ballooning to twice the normal weight goes missing