Watch This Soda-Loving Monkey Guzzle Down a Bottle in Front of a Huge Crowd

Many people worldwide enjoy a crisp soda during the day for a spot of refreshment. Surprisingly, some monkeys appear to share this habit! In the short clip below, a macaque is caught on film trying to snatch a passerby’s soda bottle, and he succeeds. The cameraman watches in shock as the little guy easily opens the bottle and gulps down the fizzy drink. If that wasn’t enough, the vlogger proceeds to open a can of soda for himself, which quickly draws the monkey’s attention. Nearby onlookers have to step in to prevent this grabby monkey from stealing yet another orange soda! Discouraged but not ready to quit, the video ends with the little thief trying to pickpocket someone’s cookies. Keep scrolling to see these antics in action!

Monkey Thief Caught on Camera!

What Do Monkeys Eat?

If they care about their dental hygiene, they’ll need to stop with the sugary drinks! Seriously though, monkey diets are as diverse as the primate species. In the case of the macaque, the monkeys seen in the video above, are generally omnivorous animals. In the wild, a balanced diet for them includes fruits, leaves, small animals, and insects. They do, however, often overlap with human settlements, which means these critters are not shy about trying new cuisines. In fact, these mischief makers are so comfortable with doing so, that some of them begin to prefer certain human snacks.

That said, these little hooligans can serve as a cautionary tale. Monkeys that have grown to love junk food are prone to becoming overweight and aggressive. Sometimes they become so lazy on a trashy diet, that they stop foraging for their natural food sources.

Do Monkeys Learn Traditions?

Before you might think that’s an odd question, stop and consider the complex social behavior of primates. These animals have been extensively researched and many shocking discoveries regarding their intelligence have been found. For example, not only can a monkey learn complicated tasks like opening soda bottles, but they can also teach others these skills.

The imparting of these learned talents can be seen as a form of culture among a species, especially in close social groups. Much like how people may observe and pick up habits from their friends, monkeys commonly do the very same. While it’s not clear who started it, someone might need to have a talk with the one who started the soda thing!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Blueton/Shutterstock.com