The outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic has had an impact not only in human societies but also in animal groups too. In Lopburi, one of the largest areas near the centre of Thailand, monkeys were observed ganging up in groups to fight for their food.
Lopburi is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand and the monkeys of the area are used to rely on tourists for their food. However, as the CoVid-19 outbreak has put a halt in tourism activities globally, the food supplies for the monkeys in Lopburi are now very scarce, and monkeys have to fight for their survival.
In a video taken by Sasaluk Rattanachai, we see dozens of monkeys chasing a monkey from a rival group who has successfully taken a banana.
One of the city's monkey gangs is residing in the archeological temple cite, while the other stays in a different area. Normally, the monkey groups avoid each other and use the train tracks to mark their territories. But being close to the point of starvation due to lack of food, once one monkey found a banana, the others had to fight for a share.
The city's locals, who are familiar with the monkeys, have reported the animals' behaviour as similar to that of wild dogs. Understanding the severity of the monkeys' hunger, residents are trying to help by giving away bits of food to the monkeys where they can. This is a difficult task however, as locals have to prioritise their own needs and stock enough food for them and their families first.
Thailand has so far 721 confirmed coronavirus infections with one confirmed death.
Thailand's tourism attraction largely depends on neighbouring China, and it is expected that the country's economy will be severely hit, estimating to lose over $1 billion this year.
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