Monkey festival returns to Thailand

Описание: Hundreds of macaques, also known as long-tailed monkeys, climbed on people - and stacks of fruit - in Lopburi in central Thailand during its annual Monkey Festival.
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The feast, which featured two tonnes fruits and vegetables and cost over 100,000 baht ($3,000), is an annual tradition for locals to thank the monkeys for doing their part in drawing in tourists to the town, which is sometimes known as "Monkey Province."

"Today's special is durian, which is expensive. Lopburi monkeys like expensive things," said Yongyuth Kitwatananusont who has previously organised over 30 monkey festivals.

After a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, this year's event was committed to give something back to the community, with 100 wheelchairs being donated to those in need.

Covid has badly hit Thailand's tourism industry, but visitors have gradually been returning after the government launched a quarantine-free travel scheme for vaccinated tourists, and the festival proved a popular draw.

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