Animal rights activists dress as chained monkeys outside coconut milk factory to protest against the use of the animals in the production of the product.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) organised the stunt outside the Theppadungporn Coconut Co headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday November 21.

Campaigners are furious that monkeys continue to be used to harvest coconuts from palm trees so that the nut can used in production of tins of coconut milk - a staple ingredient in Thai curries.

They claim that monkeys are plucked from the wild and abused - often being caged and chained to force them to work in the coconut harvesting industry.

A PETA spokesman said: 'The action comes on the heels of PETA's third investigation into the industry, revealing that industry-wide monkeys continue to be beaten, whipped, and forced to pick coconuts despite Thai officials' claims the forced labor has ended.

'In the most comprehensive investigation covering nine provinces in Thailand, including top coconut-producing ones, found that monkeys are used across the industry linked even to brands that claim to be monkey-free.

'Monkeys used in the coconut milk industry are reportedly abducted from their natural habitat as babies, and their teeth may be removed if they try to defend themselves.

'They are deprived of any semblance of a natural life. When not being forced to pick coconuts or perform in circus-style shows for tourists, PETA's investigations have found that the animals are chained in flooded land or rubbish-strewn patches of dirt.'

PETA Senior Vice President Jason Baker added: 'Condemned to a hard and bleak life picking coconuts around the clock, these sensitive monkeys never once get to spend time with family or experience joy.

'PETA is calling on everyone to avoid buying coconut milk and cream from Thailand, until the industry agrees to break these chains.'