Uncle Fatty, The Obese Monkey, Is Finally Being Released Back Into The Wild

Source - A once-obese primate is about to be released back into the wilderness — even if he’s still a chunky monkey. The beast, named “Uncle Fatty,” has been on a three-month-long diet, shrinking his girth from 59.5 pounds to 54.5 pounds – so an 8.4-percent weight loss, zookeepers in Bangkok said. 

“His tummy no longer drags on the ground,” Natanon Panpetch, a veterinarian at the Wildlife Conservation Office, told the southeast Asian news website Coconuts. “He is in a perfect health and ready to be released. He has grown accustomed to the natural foods.” It’s a big change from the junk food, sugary drinks, sweet watermelons and soft drinks he had been fed from tourists.

Uncle Fatty made worldwide headlines in May, when he was found lounging around, barely able to move because of his weight. New pictures of Uncle Fatty still show him with a gargantuan gut, though zookeepers said he’s fit enough to be let out.

Natanon urged tourists, if they come upon Uncle Fatty, not to feed him any human good. “He [Uncle Fatty] does not know what food he should not eat. He eats whatever he finds delicious.”

After years of being fat shamed, Uncle Fatty is finally being released back into the wild.  I guess human decency doesn’t extend to monkeys.   If this was some R&B star I don’t think so many people would be laughing at this cutesy nickname.

You’d also think being in monkey prison would’ve given Fatty some prison abs but nope. It still looks like he swallowed a watermelon.

It’s actually impressive. He was on a diet for three months and only lost five pounds. Or as the spin artists currently known as the Wildlife Conservation Office call it, 8.4-percent. Which, if they hadn’t released the picture would’ve sounded great. Unfortunately for them, they put out two “before” pictures. Not a smart PR move if you’re trying to become the Passages Malibu of animal rehabilitation.

Come to think of it, the entire story sounds like the animal version of My 600lbs Life meets Intervention. And if the same rules apply, Fatty was doomed from the get go; diets don’t work unless the subject is committed and monkeys don’t stay in treatment unless they want to be there.

Fatty was fine with his lifestyle, lounging around eating all sorts of delicious human foods and sodas. He didn’t ask for help. It was forced upon him. Even though are conservationists may be patting themselves on their backs it’s Uncle Fatty who’s the real winner.