A seven-year-old boy in Thailand has tragically died after being mauled by his pet monkey, an animal that had been rescued from a roadside. The incident occurred on June 6 in the Nakhon Si Thammarat province of southern Thailand, prompting a police hunt for the animal after it vanished.
Attack Details
Ekkarat Srichan was playing outside his home when his pet monkey, named Choke, began attacking and biting him. Locals heard the monkey screeching as it continued to assault the helpless child. The boy's family rushed to the scene, finding Ekkarat covered in wounds and the monkey with blood dripping from its mouth. The child was rushed to a hospital in Sichon but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Injuries and Aftermath
The boy's mother, Daranee Srichan, 27, stated that the monkey's long teeth pierced her son's lung, leading to his death. She recounted: "The doctor told me my son couldn't survive because the monkey's bite punctured his lung and hit a vital area. If it hadn't struck that spot, he would have been alright." She added that her husband initially thought the boy had only been bitten on the leg, but at the hospital they discovered a bite to his right ribcage. She vowed not to keep any more monkeys, fearing for her other son's safety.
Monkey's History and Capture
The monkey was tied to a bamboo pole with a rope long enough to allow it to walk freely during the attack. The boy's grandfather released the monkey from its restraint after the incident, leading to a massive search by wildlife workers and local police. The male macaque was known to be aggressive, growling and baring its fangs at strangers, and had reportedly attacked a stray cat in the past. Police eventually found the killer monkey but required wildlife experts with tranquilizer guns to subdue it due to its aggressive nature.
Grandfather's Regret
The boy's grandfather, Jaroon, who rescued the monkey in 2022, expressed regret. He said: "I don't know if the monkey disliked my grandson or not, but they've known each other for a long time. It wasn't their first time meeting. It must have been tired and irritated. At first, I thought I had made the right decision in saving the monkey. But now that this happened, I realise I made a mistake. I have to let it go. I'm not going to keep it anymore."
Legal Implications
Police confirmed that the grandfather would be questioned, as owning macaques is legal in Thailand but strictly regulated. Keeping these monkeys as pets without proper authorization is illegal and could lead to prosecution.
