A seven-year-old boy has died after being attacked by his pet monkey in southern Thailand. Ekkarat Srichan was playing outside his home in Sichon, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, when the animal, named Choke, began mauling him. The monkey was tied to a bamboo pole but had a long enough rope to move freely.
Locals heard the monkey screeching as it bit the boy repeatedly. The family rushed to the scene and found Ekkarat covered in wounds, with blood dripping from the monkey's mouth. He was taken to hospital but pronounced dead on June 6. The boy's mother, Daranee Srichan, 27, said the monkey's long teeth pierced her son's lung, causing fatal injuries.
The monkey, a male macaque, was known to be aggressive and had previously attacked a stray cat, according to neighbours. After the attack, the boy's grandfather released the animal from its restraint, prompting a search by wildlife workers and police. The monkey was later found and subdued with tranquiliser darts.
The grandfather, Jaroon, had rescued the monkey in 2022 but now regrets his decision. He said he did not know why the monkey attacked, but believed it may have been tired and irritated. Police are investigating whether the family had the correct authorisation to keep the monkey, as owning macaques is strictly regulated in Thailand.
