Coconut picking monkey provides lucrative income for owner

PASIR PUTEH: A coconut milk seller here manages to rake in an income of RM300 to RM400 a day with the help of 'Salleh', a male coconut-picking monkey.

Mohd Nor Daud, 61, said he bought the monkey for RM200 from a friend, three years ago, before training the primate to pluck coconuts in villages around Pasir Puteh.

He said the four-year-old Salleh is able to pluck 200 to 300 coconuts a day.

"I do not sell the coconuts that have been plucked but I will process them to produce fresh coconut milk.

"I also sell fresh coconut milk at only RM10 per kilogramme, cheaper than the normal market price of RM12," he said when met at Kampung Telaga Gayong, here today.

Mohd Nor also said that he was grateful to have received aid such as coconut milk processing equipment and a three-wheeled motorcycle from the government

On how he communicates with Salleh during the coconut picking process, Mohd Nor said he would use a special language to give commands and Salleh can understand him so well.

He said it would be impossible for him to climb trees and pluck coconuts without the help of Salleh.

Mohd Nor said the price of a trained monkey in the village can reach up to RM1,000 each because it is difficult to find these days.

-- BERNAMA