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With the pandemic, masks have become a part of everyday life, and there are reminders plastered everywhere for people to mask up.

One long-tailed macaque clearly took the hint.

The particularly conscientious monkey was recently spotted wrestling with a face mask, appearing to be figuring out how to put it on.

Monkey and mask

Raina Tang captured the monkey's antics in a series of photos.

She told Mothership she had visited Bukit Batok Nature Park on July 26 when she came across the tribe of macaques.

One female macaque caught sight of a discarded mask in the bushes, and proceeded to pick it up.

According to Tang, she guarded it closely and would not let her fellow macaques touch it.

The monkey then appeared to be figuring out what to do with the scrap of cloth, and at one point nearly got it right by hooking one strap over her ear.

Tang added that she initially thought the monkey would simply hold the mask like any other object.

"I was surprised when she put it on her face in an attempt to wear it! She even ran with the mask still on her face ahaha!"

Meanwhile, Tang said that passers-by noticed the monkey's shenanigans, and jokingly added: "Eh wear your mask".

The monkey fiddled about with the mask for about 20 minutes until she followed her tribe back into the forest, mask still in tow.

Discarded masks could harm wildlife

While the macaque's actions might have appeared wholesome and cute, littering poses a real danger to wildlife.

Reports have shown that since the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the amount of personal protective equipment (PPE) litter, such as gloves and masks.

The study found that three months after face masks became obligatory in the UK, PPE items were found on 30 per cent of the monitored beaches and at 69 per cent of inland clean-ups.

As such, animals are getting trapped and entangled in said litter, or even ingesting these items. These animals then become weakened and ultimately starve to death.

In Singapore, improperly disposed-of masks are not a rare sight either.

With some making their way to particularly peculiar locations.

The Straits Times also reported that cleanup groups have been picking up an average of four to five surgical masks during each clean-up trip at local parks, beaches and neighbourhoods.

Littering is an offence in Singapore, so do remember to dispose of your masks in the appropriate rubbish bins.

Those caught littering can be fined up to S$2,000.

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Top photo courtesy of Raina Tang