Monkey Feast Festival in central Thailand - in pictures

Celebration held to show gratitude to the animals for bringing in tourism

Monkeys eat fruit during the annual Monkey Festival in Lopburi province, Thailand. Reuters

Monkeys and dogs are seen before the festival. Reuters

During the festival, local citizens and tourists gather to provide a banquet to the thousands of long-tailed macaques that live in central Lopburi. Getty Images

The festival is held as a way to show gratitude to the monkeys for bringing in tourism. AP

Lopburi locals provide a platter of fruits for the monkeys. Getty Images

Monkeys feast on fruits and sweet snacks. Getty Images

Monkeys climb on top of tourists during the festival. Getty Images

Previously, there were around 300 monkeys in Lopburi; today there are nearly 4,000. Getty Images

Monkeys try to steal food from tourists. Getty Images

Monkeys climb on top of tourists. Getty Images

A monkey grabs the face of a tourist. Getty Images

A mother monkey holds her baby. Getty Images

Monkeys walk past monkey statues in Lopburi. Getty Images

A man dressed as a monkey visits the Lopburi Monkey Festival. Getty Images

Monkeys walk past monkey statues. Getty Images

Monkeys feast on fruits and sweet snacks. Getty Images

A baby monkey is seen at the Lopburi Monkey Festival. Getty Images

Local tourists play with monkeys at the Phra Prang Sam Yot temple in central Lopburi. Getty Images

Tourists take photos of monkeys. Getty Images

Monkeys fight over food in Lopburi. Getty Images

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