Monkey sterilisation drive ramps up in Lopburi crackdown
Monkey trapping started on June 8 to catch 450 by June 17
Efforts to control the monkey population in Lopburi city centre are ongoing, with macaques being trapped, sterilised, and relocated to shelters. A new facility is being built to accommodate more of these monkeys, which have been causing disruptions in the area.
The operation is managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), and began in May.
Captured macaques are sterilised and housed in a large cage in Po Kao Ton subdistrict, Mueang district.
The initiative aims to address issues posed by the often aggressive monkeys, which threaten pedestrians, invade homes, and interfere with businesses, particularly around Phra Prang Sam Yot.
This historical site, popular with tourists, has become overrun with the large monkey population. The most recent trapping effort, funded by the 2025 fiscal budget, started on June 8 and will continue until June 17, with a target to capture 450 monkeys, according to Adisak Phusitwongsanuyut, director of the protected area regional office 1.
Adisak announced that a new shelter is under construction, designed to accommodate over 3,000 monkeys, and it is expected to be ready by the end of the month.
The Mueang district operation is seen as an exemplary approach for addressing monkey-related issues in other districts and has attracted attention from both Thai and international media.
Despite the disturbances caused by the monkeys, the annual Monkey Buffet Festival took place last year at Phra Prang Sam Yot on the last Sunday of November, drawing many foreign tourists.
The monkeys in the holding facility were not excluded; they also participated in their buffet, reported Bangkok Post.
The main organiser, Sia Yi, expressed to reporters that the Monkey Buffet Festival has a long history and he is committed to continuing it, whether at its traditional site or within the holding cages.
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