A gang of monkeys deposed their aged "king" in true "survival of the fittest" style at Badaling Safari Park on Wednesday, reports Beijing Times.

At around 2:00 pm, about seven monkeys chased and attacked their old king, a six-year-old monkey named Didi.

A feeder and seven security workers tried to disperse the ruckus with clubs, but the monkeys, intent on their purpose, held forth. Eventually, they were able to throw Didi from his "throne" at the top of a small hill in their enclosure. According to Wu, the zoo's manager, Didi was badly hurt, suffering broken bones and several deep scratches. He was not likely to survive, Wu added.

The reigns of most monkey kings end in similarly violent coups. The zoo's first monkey king, Diandian, died of blood poisoning at the age of five after being bitten by his successor - Didi.

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