Monkey on a Durian Diet: The Sweet Squealer of Tampines
Think you’re the only one eyeing the “king of fruits” this season? Think again. A cheeky monkey has turned the fruit stall on Tampines S. 11 into his personal durian buffet.
First Encounter: Bananas or Bust
- On Wednesday, September 14, stall‑keeper Xiao Wei first spotted a local macaque poking his nose around.
- The monkey was after bananas, but the fruit was hooked up securely—so he had to ditch that scholarship.
- Xiow‑Wei tried a classic bait: “One banana didn’t cut it, but a second might!”
Durian Heist 101
Not content with bananas, the sly primate slipped back into the stall while the clerk was busy, snatched a Musang King durian, and took it up to the roof like a proud king.
“I didn’t even notice he’d taken the durian until a customer said ‘Hey, that’s gone!’
Morning Routine
Every dawn, at about 7 a.m., the macaque shows up to pull a new durian from the shelves, climbs the roof, opens the rind, and starts eating while the whole shop watches.
Because the stall stays open all day, night, and Sunday, it’s a walk‑and‑chew game for any curious monkey.
Financial Toll
Each Musang King runs roughly $50. Since this furry intruder has been happily looting, the shop has already lost about $200.
Conflicted Owner
Xiao Wei admits he’s torn. Feeding monkeys is illegal—and can carry a fine up to $10,000, according to NParks. Yet he can’t just swing a staff baton or do a “poo‑background” prank.
He’s already reported the situation to the Tampines Town Council and the National Environmental Agency, hoping that the monkey stops freelancing for his customers.
What’s Happened in the Past?
- August 2020: A not‑so‑shy macaque stole a packed bag of bread at a Sheng Siong outlet on 417 Fernvale Link. The clip landed on Facebook.\
- “Hawker’s eye,” an employee told Lianhe Wanbao, listing six prior bread‑heists.
- In Thailand’s Hua Hin, a wild elephant used its tusks to bulldoze a produce shop’s gate, then went on a durian binge:
- It smashed the gate, sniffed the oranges, and ate over ten durians the same night.
Takeaway
Long story short: If you’re planning to buy a Musang King, keep your eyes peeled and your staff on guard — even if that guard is a palm‑splaying, banana‑handed monkey.
