Three baby monkeys born into a dangerous nest of electrical wiring were rescued yesterday and nursed to health by a vet, warming many a heart in the process.
There was no bigger news out of “Monkey City” in Lopburi province Tuesday than the rescue of the simian siblings, who still had their umbilical cords and were evidently abandoned by their mother in a tangle of overhead electrical lines.
Somkuan Sila, who has a nearby noodle shop, and Phuttiseth Chaipuwarat, the owner of Prasert Barber, were the first to notice the newborn triplets and alerted others to their plight. Two women arrived to extricate them from a shocking death.
That rescue effort appeared to consist of knocking them down from the awning with a long stick into a plastic basket.
Somkuan said he noticed the babies Tuesday morning when he was about to open his noodle shop. As he walked across the road, he saw something that looked like “monkey keychains” hanging above the first floor. Seconds later it all clicked: Those were actual newborn macaques, attached to their umbilical cords.
Lopburi is home to swarms of macaques, which are honored with an annual public “feast” on the last Sunday of November.
The three monkeys are now under care of local veterinarian Jutamas Supanam, who confirmed that they were female triplet sisters.
“The vet told me that throughout her career of 20 years, this is the first time that she has treated triplets,” Phuttiseth said. “She said this is a good omen, and he will do his best to save them.”
