Watch: Monkeys in Thailand treated to five-star feast to thank them for attracting tourists

Monkeys in Thailand have been treated to a five-star feast.

Lopburi, also known as Monkey Province, threw the party for the primates on Sunday (27 November) to thank them for all that they do for the Thai economy.

The region is home to thousands of crab-eating macaques, also known as long-tailed monkeys, which attract thousands of visitors every year.

In appreciation of their efforts, an annual buffet has been held for them since the 1980s.

Hundreds of monkeys could be seen gorging themselves on the fruit and vegetables, as they grabed their treats among the ancient ruins.

Though they are mostly friendly, the monkeys are known to occasionally bite tourists if they get between them and their food.

Linda Tarvida, 31, from Latvia, said: "One bit me yesterday so I was surprised, but I guess that was just a bad one that was less kind.

"The others were really kind and friendly so, yes, they're fun, but I guess we need to be a bit careful."

However, this year's festival is slightly different from previous years as it is the first since the death of the revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in October.

Organisers said the event had been toned down as a sign of respect during the one-year mourning period.

"This year we are still in mourning because of the king's passing," organiser Yongyuth Kitwatananusont told Reuters.

"Therefore, we continued this festival in an appropriate manner. We can't just not hold one this year as we've been doing them for the past 27 years, so we've stuck to the most appropriate style in the 28th year.

"There are more monkeys this year than last year, so that's why we loaded the fruits onto three trucks and delivered them around town."