The moment was captured in a 43-second TikTok video posted by user ‘ju’ with the caption ‘Monkey hill attack’. The clip shows the monkey grabbing the phone from one of the tourists before holding it up as if taking a picture. A Thai man later intervened and managed to retrieve the phone, returning it to the startled tourist.
The video quickly went viral, with netizens flooding the comments section with humorous reactions. Some joked that the monkey had set the image as its profile picture, while others wondered how the phone was recovered. One user quipped, “No need for a photographer ‒ the monkey took the picture himself!”.
While the incident amused many, it also serves as a reminder for visitors to exercise caution around the playful but unpredictable monkeys that roam the popular tourist spot.
Local authorities continue to advise tourists to keep a safe distance and secure their belongings when visiting Monkey Hill.