Obese Monkey Nicknamed Godzilla Placed on Strict Diet After Gorging on Junk Food

Officials placed an obese monkey on a strict diet of dill, lettuce, and live crickets after overindulging in fast food as part of a fat camp.

The primate, nicknamed 'Godzilla,' now weighs 17.2 kilograms. Staffs are optimistic that a regular walking regimen will help him recover his health and get his weight down to 10kg before being released back into the wild.

On March 26, 'Godzilla' was moved to a wildlife center in Chachoengsao, central Thailand, weighing 19kg. Since starting his new diet, he has lost nearly 2kg.

He's been feeding mainly live crickets, which he chases around his cage, as well as dill, lettuce, worms, carrots, beans, and seeds.

Officers say, however, that the "spoiled" monkey remains violent and has threatened visitors who approach him.

Godzilla's Overweight, Authorities Said

Navee Changpirom, forest chief at Thailand's Department of National Parks, said: "Godzilla's weight still exceeds the normal standards of most common macaque monkeys, which is no more than 10kg."

"He also has behavioral problems, because he had too many toys from his previous owner." He also confirmed that if someone attempts to pick up the toys, the monkey would instantly snatch them back. Daily Mail said Manop Emsan adopted Godzilla after the stall's previous owner abandoned him. They saved the monkey after a video of the three-year-old obese primate chained up in a Bangkok market surfaced last month. He'd been living there for over two years, feeding himself from passing shoppers.

'The rescue team found Godzilla when he was very small. And since he grew up being fed by humans, he does not know how to find food on his own in the wild,' Manop said.

Godzilla's former owner said he would be able to see him while he is being cared for. But authorities have to release the primate into the wild to communicate with other monkeys.

"Godzilla is like a son to me," a distraught Manop said. According to Manop, Godzilla is a member of the family.

Manop told The Sun that Godzilla won't eat and becomes moody and depressed when he isn't with the family.

"I'm concerned he won't survive," he said.

Don't Keep Wild Monkeys at Home, Officials Warn

Changpirom warned residents that they should never keep a wild monkey in their homes.

He said: "The correct step is to call the local Police and wait for officials to collect the animal and give proper care."

The animal's condition is close to that of Uncle Fatty, a wild monkey who gained weight after consuming fast food from passers-by in Thailand in 2017.

Another negative side effect of his diet was that he no longer wanted to forage, so he didn't get as much exercise as the other monkeys.

He was then sent to a 'fat camp,' but he was last seen in June 2019 and is now presumed dead.

Godzilla is almost as tall as Uncle Fatty, who weighed 27 kilograms and was estimated to be between the ages of 10 and 15.

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