Each November, people in Lopburi, Thailand, prepare a massive feast. They lay out nearly two tons of fruits and vegetables. There are cucumbers, bananas, melons, and more. Then the guests of honor show up: thousands of monkeys! The animals chow down in a clearing near the site of an ancient temple.

    That amount of food for animals might seem excessive. But to the people of Lopburi, these monkeys are very important. The long-tailed macaques (muh-KAKS) have long been seen as a sign of good luck.

    Lopburi’s annual Monkey Buffet Festival is an opportunity to honor the monkeys. It’s also a great way to attract tourists. People enjoy seeing the monkeys feast. 

    But unlike the tourists, the macaques don’t leave town after the festival. And they can cause trouble—in the streets, in the shops, and even in people’s homes.

    What’s the problem? These monkeys don’t have the best manners. Macaques rip windshield wipers off cars. They climb onto people and grab food from their hands. And they become even more aggressive when they drink soda. (Tourists and food vendors sometimes hand them cans and bottles.)

    Community leaders are trying to solve the problem of the out-of-control monkeys. Feeding the animals is thought to bring good luck, so leaders don’t want to stop tourists from doing that. However, they are asking that people offer the monkeys food that is part of their natural diet, like fruits and veggies.

    So if you see a monkey in Lopburi, you’re welcome to feed it a snack. But leaders ask that you do not hand out treats that are high in salt, fat, or sugar. And if you want to offer a large quantity of snacks, save them for the Monkey Buffet Festival!