The monkey looks out from the dark, his emaciated, dirty hands clutching onto the rusted wire which has kept him trapped in this tiny hole for a quarter of a century.
This tiny, damp hole has been his home ever since he was captured in 1991 and turned into a family pet – a spectacle for the neighbours to enjoy in this slum in downtown Bangkok, Thailand.
The rat-infested cage is so small, the macaque’s muscles had all but wasted away, leaving the animal barely able to stand.
And here he would have remained, were it not for a passer-by who spotted his mournful eyes, and decided to act.
Prisoner: Joe the macaque was kept in a tiny cage in a Thai slum by his owners from 1991 until he was finally rescued last week
Survival: The tiny rat-infested cage, which measured just 70 X 70 X 80cms, was crammed in between two buildings
Disgusting: Joe was dehydrated and barely able to stand when he was rescued from the slum by Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailan
With only vague details to go on – only that the monkey was somewhere in the slum – the team set out, discovering the poor creature living in some of the worst conditions they had ever seen.
Grim: Joe would no doubt have stayed in the cage for the rest of his life had a passer-by not noticed the horrendous conditions
Freedom: Joe’s owner was happy to part company with his pet after he was approached by the wildlife charity
Recovery: Joe is already looking far healthier, just a few days into his new life at the animal sanctuary
Future: He isn’t climbing quite yet, but he has been spotted washing and his life expectancy has already improved
Joe – dehydrated, dirty and unable to walk – was sedated, and removed from the slum – allowing the team to reveal the full horror of the rubbish-filled cage where he had spent his years.