7-Year-Old Boy Dies After Attack by Pet Macaque in Thailand

Ekkarat Srichan, 7, was attacked by a 4-year-old macaque while playing outside his family's home in Thailand. The monkey, named Choke and rescued by the boy's grandfather, inflicted severe injuries including bites and scratches that punctured the child's lung. He was taken to a local hospital but died from his wounds. Neighbors reported that the monkey was known to be aggressive, having previously killed a stray cat. The grandfather initially released the monkey into the mountains after the attack, but wildlife officials later captured it. The boy's mother stated she will no longer keep monkeys as pets due to the danger to her remaining child. While macaque ownership is legal in Thailand, keeping wild-caught or protected macaques without authorization can result in fines, prosecution, and animal confiscation.