This is the funny moment a cheeky macaque gatecrashed Buddhist monks' lunch in Thailand.

Video shows the primate walking around to sniff at dishes at the temple's dining hall in Saraburi province on July 1.

The amused monks appeared to have become used to the chubby animal's visits, and handed it a snack and a juice box. It later scurried back into nearby trees to rejoin the troop.

Thailand's growing population of primates has become a problem as the animals are known to damage property, such as cars and buildings. Unafraid of the consequences, they have also started stealing food from tourists and locals.

Meanwhile, the Thai government is taking steps to manage the monkey population in the country, including creating sanctuaries, mass sterilisation programs, educating the public on how to handle the animals properly, and relocating them to more suitable habitats.