Thailand's chunky monkey on diet after gorging on junk food

A morbidly obese wild monkey who gorged himself on junk food and soda from tourists has been rescued and placed on a strict diet.

The chunky monkey nicknamed "Uncle Fat" by locals is now eating lean protein, fruits and vegetables at a rehabilitation center in Thailand.

Wildlife officials rescued the male long-tailed macaque last month after photos of the animal started circulating on social media.

Most urban wild monkeys in Thailand are macaques, and they typically weigh around 9 kilograms. Uncle Fat tipped the scales Friday at around 26 kilograms .

Veterinarians hope to release him back into the wild after a few months.