A morbidly obese wild monkey nicknamed 'Uncle Fat' has been rescued and placed on a strict diet.

The overweight macaque ballooned to 60lb - three times the size of an average one - after gorging on junk food and soft drinks left behind by tourists in Thailand.

Wildlife officials caught the the monkey, aged between 10 and 15, at a market in Bangkok after photos of the animal began circulating online.

A morbidly obese wild monkey nicknamed 'Uncle Fat' has been rescued and placed on a strict diet after ballooning to 60lb

Uncle Fat ballooned to three times the size of an average macaque after gorging on junk food and soft drinks left behind by tourists in Thailand

Uncle Fat's new diet (pictured0 limits him to 14oz of lean protein, fruits and vegetables twice a day

'It was not easy to catch him,' said Kacha Phukem, the wildlife official who launched the rescue mission last month

'He was the leader of his pack, and when I tried to go in, I had to fight off a flock of them with sticks.'

Because of his high status within the group, other monkeys fed into Uncle Fat's bad habits.

'He had minions and other monkeys bringing food for him but he would also redistribute it to younger monkeys,' said Supakarn Kaewchot, a vet in charge of his diet.

'He is now in a critical condition where there is a high-risk of heart disease and diabetes.'

Uncle Fat's new diet is limited to 14oz of lean protein, fruits and vegetables twice a day.

Uncle Fat got so overweight that he is now in a critical condition where he is at high risk of heart disease and diabetes

Because of his high status within the group, other monkeys fed into Uncle Fat's bad habits by bringing him food

'He had minions and other monkeys bringing food for him but he would also redistribute it to younger monkeys,' said Supakarn Kaewchot (pictured), the vet in charge of his diet

He developed an enormous belly before wildlife officials who received reports from concerned locals spotted him this week

He had developed an enormous belly by previously eating sugary melons, milkshakes, sweetcorn and noodles.

Ms Supakarn said she hopes they can consider releasing him into the wild in the next few months, when he reaches his target weight of around 17.5lb.

She said Uncle Fat is an example of why people should not feed wild monkeys unhealthy food.

'I understand that people feel sorry for the monkeys and want to feed them when they see them.

'But please don't feed them food that people like to eat like snacks and soda. It is very bad for their health and the problem is entirely man-made.'

Wild monkeys roam free in many parts of Thailand, attracting tourists who feed and play with the animals. Most of the monkeys are macaques like Uncle Fat, but typically weigh around 20lb.

Thai primate conservation group 'Monkey Lovers' said today that Uncle was not sick - he was just fat - and wanted him returned to his friends.

Thai primate conservation group 'Monkey Lovers' said today that Uncle was not sick - he was just fat

Uncle Fatty has now been rescued and taken for a health check and monkey 'fat camp' to try and reduce his weight to a more acceptable 17.5lb - normal for his species

Organiser Kawinoat MongKholtechaphat said: 'Uncle has got fat because he has just been eating everything that people give to him.

'He's not sick, he just needs helps. He likes eating and there are lots of visitors and tourists who give him food all day.'

Kawinoat said that Uncle played an important role in the community of monkeys that roam free around the market in the Bang Khun Thian district.

He added: 'He's a leader to the younger monkeys. He teaches them important things, how to survive.

'He's old now and likes to sit around eating a lot. We want the monkeys to stay roaming free outside where they are happy.'

The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation have now transferred Uncle to a Nakhon Nayok wildlife rescue center some 100 miles away where he will receive health checks.

The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation have now transferred Uncle to a Nakhon Nayok wildlife rescue center some 100 miles away where he will receive health checks

The chubby monkey will also be put on a strict diet - and made to run and swing around with other animals to lose weight

The chubby monkey will also be put on a strict diet - and made to run and swing around with other animals to lose weight.

Kanjana Nittaya said: 'We believe the monkey is suffering from obesity because a great number of people come there and feed it. It is probably just sitting there and overeating.'

Thailand is home to hundreds of thousands of wild monkeys including gibbon, macaque, langur and loris, that roam free and are popular with tourists.