In Thailand’s Monkey City, a Young Girl Brings Herself a Toy Machine Gun to Guard Her Snacks—And the Image Went Global
Every so often a single photograph captures something more than a moment. It becomes a story, a symbol, a conversation starter. That’s what happened when an image of a young schoolgirl in Thailand went viral: she walked home with her school uniform on, a bag of snacks in one hand, and an airsoft machine gun in the other. It was striking—because she carried the toy not as decoration, but as protection.
The photo was taken in Lop Buri, a province famous in Thailand as a “monkey city.” Hundreds, even thousands, of macaques roam streets and market areas, often snaffling food from unsuspecting pedestrians and sometimes even displaying aggression. Locals and tourists alike regularly report being harassed or losing their snacks to these nimble creatures. In response, many people in Lop Buri carry tools to ward off the monkeys—a stick, sometimes a slingshot, occasionally even a toy gun that makes a loud noise. The little girl in the photo, known online as Noey, became the face of that everyday reality.
The image first appeared on Reddit and Instagram, prompting millions of views and comments. One Reddit user explained: “A young girl has bought food. On her way home, she must use an airsoft machine gun to avoid being attacked and the food stolen by the monkeys.” In Thailand, monkeys are both sacred and troublesome—they are legally protected, so harming them can bring charges of cruelty. Yet they interfere dramatically with daily life. Against this backdrop, it makes sense that a child would use a harmless toy to create distance—not harm—between her food and the macaques.
Later, more context arrived: the award-winning photo was captured by wildlife photographer Joan de la Malla, and the image earned top prizes in wildlife photography competitions. It even led to Noey being invited as guest of honor to premiere events like the Thailand screening of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, given the uncanny echo of humans and apes in the frame.
The public reaction was a mix of astonishment, sympathy, and amusement. Some commenters joked about it being a mash‑up of Planet of the Apes and real life. Others reflected on how strange it is that a young girl needs to defend her simple street snacks from wild animals. “Clever girl,” someone posted. “Monkeys in SEA (Southeast Asia) are everywhere,” wrote another, recounting carrying rocks in Malaysia and Thailand to fend off the primates.
Importantly, though, the story also raised awareness of broader animal‑human issues in Lop Buri. The province has struggled for years with macaque overpopulation. Authorities have sterilization programs in place and have built monkey shelters to reduce human-monkey conflict. Local leaders even showed the photograph to Thailand’s Prime Minister to urge action on managing the city’s monkey problem before it became a global meme.
Still, the girl’s toy gun remained a gentle symbol. She didn’t aim to hurt the monkeys, only to deter them. The image underscores both the creaturely cheek of macaques and the everyday resourcefulness of people living among them. It shows a child navigating a landscape where wildlife intrudes upon simple walk-home routines.
This isn’t the only place where people arm themselves with harmless deterrents. Resorts and rural neighborhoods in parts of Asia keep airsoft or paintball guns hung near hot springs or paths—just to chase off persistent monkeys without hurting them.
Above all, the story of Noey and her airsoft gun reminds us how unique and strange the world can be. In one frame, a schoolgirl, snack in hand, walking past city monkeys—her only defense, a toy machine gun. It’s funny, yes. But it’s also real: a snapshot of coexistence, improvisation, and living lightly in the space between urban life and nature’s unpredictable residents.
