A 7-year-old boy was mauled to death by a pet monkey his grandfather had rescued, according to reports.
The horrifying attack happened while little Ekkarat Srichan was playing outside his family’s home in Thailand. The macaque, named Choke, reportedly lunged at the child, bit him in the chest and wrestled him to the ground.
Neighbors said they heard the monkey screeching during the savage attack.
Relatives later found Ekkarat covered in bites and scratches. The 4-year-old monkey was still tied to a bamboo pole nearby, with blood dripping from its mouth, according to the Asia Pacific Press.
The child was rushed to a local hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.
“The doctor told me my son couldn’t survive because the monkey’s bite punctured his lung and hit a vital area,” his devastated mother, Daranee Srichan, 27, said.
“If it hadn’t struck that spot, he would have been alright,” she added.
Daranee said the tragedy has changed her view on keeping monkeys as pets.
“If I do, my other son might not survive,” she said.
Ekkarat’s grandfather had reportedly rescued the macaque from the side of the road before bringing it home. After the deadly attack, he released the animal into the mountains, sparking fears that it could hurt someone else.
Police and wildlife officials later launched a search for the monkey and eventually captured it.
Neighbors claimed Choke had long shown aggressive behavior. They said the monkey would growl and bare its teeth at people passing by and had previously killed a stray cat that got too close.
Owning macaques is legal in Thailand, but the practice is heavily regulated. Keeping wild-caught or protected macaques without proper authorization can lead to fines, prosecution and the animal being confiscated.
