Thailand: Dozens of live monkeys found stashed in bags 

Bangkok: Dozens of live monkeys tied up in small sacks have been found in an abandoned building in central Thailand, national media reported on Thursday.

According to details, residents nearby heard the monkeys' cries and found nearly 100 of them in the building.

Footage showed police and wildlife protection officers in the building in Saraburi province inspecting plastic crates containing sealed blue mesh bags with monkeys in what authorities believe was a failed operation by illicit wildlife traffickers.

The video shows some monkeys trying to scamper away while still inside bags that were secured with string and plastic zip ties. 

Dozens of live monkeys tied up in small sacks were found in an abandoned building in central Thailand, national media reported, in what authorities believe was a failed operation by illicit wildlife traffickers pic.twitter.com/G6y7CTn27V

— Reuters (@Reuters) February 17, 2022

Reportedly, officials released most of the creatures by cutting open the bags before reporting their discovery to police. 

The Department of National Parks did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Officers from the parks department arrived to collect the remaining monkeys and take them to a wildlife quarantine centre near the capital, Bangkok.

Thailand and the wider Southeast Asia is home to some of the world's most diverse flora and fauna, but the region has suffered from rampant poaching and trafficking of wildlife.