Monkey Caught on Camera Grabbing Bread from Supermarket & Eating It Beside the Store

2020 has been a rough year for many.

With so many businesses crumbling under the weight of the Covid-19 pandemic, employees have had to take pay cuts and unpaid leave, and some have even lost their jobs.

What hasn’t been reported, though, is the soaring unemployment rate in the monkey world.

These days, when they’re not going “ooh ooh ah ah!” or flinging poop at each other, monkeys, just like humans, get anxious about their financial instability and wonder when things will return to normal.

In the meantime, some of them have to resort to extreme means to survive.

Monkey Caught on Camera Grabbing Bread from Supermarket & Eating It Beside the Store

A long-tailed macaque was spotted stealing bread from a supermarket in Sengkang.

A video of the incident was uploaded to the Facebook page Kuanyewism on Saturday (1 Aug).

The video starts with a shot of the monkey slowly approaching the entrance of the supermarket.

Image: Facebook (Kuanyewism)

Then it suddenly darts towards the bread shelf, grabs a loaf of bread, and runs off with the packaged item in its mouth.

Image: Facebook (Kuanyewism)

Instead of feeling shame for its misdeed, it proudly sits on full display on a walk path and tears open the plastic package.

Image: Facebook (Kuanyewism)

It should be noted that while the monkey was observing safe distancing guidelines, it was not wearing a mask, which could lead to an outbreak in the monkey community.

Image: Tenor

As the cameraperson approaches the macaque to get a better look, the monkey backs away and climbs up a tree to enjoy its food in peace and solitude.

Image: Facebook (Kuanyewism)

According to Mothership, the incident may have taken place in Sengkang near Layar LRT station.

Netizen Reaction

Some netizens felt sorry for the monkey, noting that it was likely desperate for food.

Image: Facebook (Kuanyewism)
Image: Facebook (Kuanyewism)
Image: Facebook (Kuanyewism)

Others were a little alarmed by the incident.

Image: Facebook (Kuanyewism)

What to do if You Encounter a Monkey

If you encounter a monkey, you should resist the impulse to feed it or fling your own poop at it. Instead, you should:

  • Remain calm and avoid making sudden movements
  • Not maintain eye contact with the monkey
  • Not run, just back off slowly
  • Keep away from the area until the monkey has left

As much as it hurts to see a monkey steal bread to literally put bread on the table, feeding it will not help it in any way, says NParks.

“When the monkeys get used to being fed, they reduce their natural inclination to forage in the forest.”

That doesn’t mean you should snatch bread away from a monkey that has just stolen it from a human supermarket, of course. Just don’t offer to spread kaya or Nutella on it.