A monkey downed half a bottle of vodka in an off-license in eastern India before passing out in the shop, with the moment caught on camera. Employees tried to shoo the primate away after it barged in without warning last week, but it ignored biscuits held out as a distraction.
The monkey then picked up a bottle of vodka, cracked it open and drank. It climbed on some boxes and fell fast asleep, leaving staff to work and customers to shop around the animal as it snored. Onlookers filmed the scene, with videos showing customers entering the shop to buy drink while staff carried on with their normal duties.
Not the first taste
Locals and shop owners said this was not the animal's first taste of alcohol. According to them, the monkey had been seen over the past few days licking leftover alcohol from discarded bottles. The monkey was 'out cold', according to eyewitnesses.
In many parts of India, monkeys are a common sight in towns and cities, and they regularly snatch food and other items from shops and homes. Wildlife experts generally warn against feeding them, as it can make the animals bolder around people.
Moved to zoo for checks
The incident happened at Ormanjhi Chowk in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state, around 265 miles from the border with Bangladesh. According to reports, the monkey was taken from the shop by wildlife workers to the nearby Birsa Biological Park for veterinary checks. Its condition is not yet known.
