DNP denies plans to transfer Lop Buri macaques to Khao Yai

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) dismissed allegations that it plans to transfer macaques from Lop Buri to Khao Yai National Park. Atthapol Charoenchansa, the Director-General of DNP, clarified this during a media briefing yesterday, April 3. The director general discussed an action plan intended to manage the monkeys causing disturbances to Lop Buri residents and also mentioned the establishment of a command centre dedicated to managing the monkey situation.

Atthapol confirmed that between March 25 and March 27 and April 1 and April 3, 37 macaques were captured by a unit of the DNP. These monkeys are currently held at a facility in Tambon Pho Kao Ton in the Mueang district of Lop Buri. He assured that all captured monkeys were receiving adequate care and were sterilized before being transported to the facility.

The Director-General refuted any claims about the relocation of the captured macaques to Khao Yai National Park in Prachin Buri. He suggested that such rumours might have originated from a misunderstanding. The captured monkeys are temporarily held at the Wildlife Rescue Centre No. 1 in Nakhon Nayok, which is within the periphery of Khao Yai National Park, possibly leading to confusion.

Additionally, Phadet Laithong, Director of the DNP’s Wildlife Conservation Office, indicated that the department plans to move approximately 800 macaques from Lop Buri’s Mueang district to the macaque facility in Tambon Pho Kao Ton.

This relocation forms the initial phase of the primate management plan. This phase will be implemented in three stages, with the first scheduled between April 18 and 20 and the final stage commencing in May, reported Bangkok Post.

The second phase of the plan will see the remaining 1,500 macaques captured and transferred to the facility, following the construction of new cages. Phadet also hinted at the possibility of relocating some monkeys to a different location.