Why you shouldn't be cheeky with a monkey: Tourist gets a bite from a protective mother after trying to give her baby a scratch on the back

  • Bill Eberle offered some food to mother primate, who hopped over and took it
  • Her baby came to have a look, jumping onto Mr Eberle's shoulder as she ate
  • But when he tried to stroke little one the mother immediately bit him on hand

By MAILONLINE REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

This tourist learned a painful lesson after trying to pet a baby monkey in front of its protective mother. 

Bill Eberle offered some food to the mother primate, who hopped over and took it out of his hands. 

Her baby came to have a look, jumping onto Mr Eberle's shoulder as she continued eating. 

Bill Eberle offered some food to the mother primate, who hopped over and took it out of his hands

Bill Eberle offered some food to the mother primate, who hopped over and took it out of his hands

Her baby came to have a look, jumping onto Mr Eberle's shoulder as she continued eating
The mother looks up at her baby on Mr Eberle's shoulder

 Her baby came to have a look,(left) jumping onto Mr Eberle's shoulder(right) as she continued eating

But when the tourist tried to stroke the little one, the mother immediately sprung up and bit him on the hand. 

He cried out in pain and walked straight off to the First Aid station, where medics applied disinfectant to the bite.

Posting the video - thought to have been shot in Thailand - on the Internet, Mr Eberle said: 'They warn you not to touch the baby monkeys. I should have listened.' 

Discussing the incident in a YouTube video, he said: 'The monkey got me pretty good.   

When the tourist tried to stroke the little one, the mother immediately sprung up and bit him on the hand

When the tourist tried to stroke the little one, the mother immediately sprung up and bit him on the hand

He cried out in pain and walked straight off to the First Aid station, where medics applied disinfectant to the bite 

He cried out in pain and walked straight off to the First Aid station, where medics applied disinfectant to the bite 

'I didn't realise there was a baby on my shoulder and I reached out to pet it without thinking and the mother just freaked out.

'Anyway, the lesson has been learned, do not touch the babies.'  

THE RULES AROUND MONKEYS

Don't feed wild monkeys or eat in front of them: in parks, on the road, at home, anywhere.

Don't smile or show your teeth to monkeys, it means danger to them.

Don't taunt or tease wild monkeys anywhere, especially offering them food then pulling it back.

Don't run from wild monkeys - if it threatens you stand your ground with a threat pose. better to avoid wild monkeys entirely.

Don't try and fight if a monkey grabs something of yours.

Don’t look monkeys directly in the eyes.

 Source: Zoo Reach

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