If you’ve ever traveled to a tourist hotspot known for its monkey population, you’ve probably heard the same warning from local guides: Keep your belongings out of sight, especially food. And for good reason. I’ve been lucky enough to visit places like Bali, Gibraltar (pictured below) and South Africa, and I’ve seen my fair share of monkey mischief firsthand.
In each of these places, I’ve watched these clever primates snatch everything from food and sunglasses to hats, right off unsuspecting tourists. But this week, a French tourist in Thailand had an even wilder encounter.
TikTok user @justinefortemps shared a video with the caption “Monkey Hill Attack,” capturing the moment a young monkey grabbed her bright blue iPhone with its prehensile hand. (See the embedded video below.)
@justinefortemps Monkey Hill Attack #monkey#thailand#monkeyhillphuket#phuket#travel#friends#monkeyattack#monkeys#monkeytiktok#girlstrip#adventuretime@Ophelie Parker #laughing#crying#patong#summer#february#hollidaysvibes ♬ son original – Ju
In the clip, you can see the monkey clutching the phone while eyeing its owner, a French tourist dressed in pink, before dashing off into the woods and climbing up a tree.
The best part? The monkey somehow managed to take a selfie video. Don’t ask me how it figured out how to flip the camera, but the footage surfaced after three local Thai men tracked down the monkey and retrieved the phone … two hours later!
According to Thaiger, the incident took place at Khao Toh Sae in Phuket’s Ratsada sub-district. This popular tourist attraction is known for its stunning sunset views and its population of mischievous monkeys and squirrels.
Even the comments on the video were full of jokes:
- @Spicekidspice: “By the time the phone was retrieved, the monkey had already created a Facebook account.”
- @Producermarky: “The way he’s vlogging 🤣🤣🤣”
Thankfully, @justinefortemps got her phone back, along with one heck of a travel story. Without the help of locals, she would’ve been out $1,000 and would’ve lost all those precious memories.
If you’re visiting a place with wild monkeys, here are a few tips to protect your stuff:
Keep valuables hidden. Monkeys are drawn to anything shiny or colorful, so stash your phone, sunglasses and snacks in a zipped bag.
Avoid direct eye contact. Some monkeys see it as a sign of aggression and may become bolder or even hostile.
Don’t feed them. Not only does this encourage bad behavior, but it’s also harmful to their health.
Hold onto your things. If you have to take out your phone or camera, grip it tightly. Monkeys are quick and love to snatch.
Stay calm if they grab something. Don’t chase the monkey, it’ll only run farther. Many tourist spots have locals who know how to handle these situations.
No matter where you go, when you’re around wild monkeys, always guard your belongings. A stolen snack is one thing but if they swipe your phone or wallet, it can really put a damper on your trip.
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