Monkey business: Disruptive macaques from Lop Buri removed

In a bid to restore peace to the residents of Lop Buri province, park officials launched an operation to remove the disruptive macaques from the municipality permanently. This initiative was undertaken today, March 25, by a team of workers from the Natural Resources, Wildlife and Plant Conversation Department, who placed cages throughout the city to trap the monkeys.

Ratchadamnoen Road in Mueang district was the primary target of this operation, with the team hoping to capture a minimum of 30 monkeys on the first day. The operation is projected to continue until Wednesday.

The chief of the Khao Sompoj non-hunting area, Krirkwit Phuphayak, revealed to Channel 3 that the team had to adapt their tactics from shooting the macaques with sedative bullets. These sedatives took five minutes to take effect, during which time the monkeys could escape and potentially pose a threat to people by climbing onto buildings.

The operation was initiated in response to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry’s decision on Saturday to compensate individuals who had been attacked by the monkeys. This month, Lop Buri has witnessed at least three major incidents involving these monkeys.

On Sunday, the Lop Buri Municipality issued a warning to residents about the operation, stating that any monkeys captured would be released at the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Nakhon Nayok.

A local tailor, Boonmee Phaeju, recounted to Thai PBS how the monkeys would snatch items from pedestrians.

“Sometimes they snatched mobile phones from students. I went after them but I could do nothing because the monkey went up to the building.”

However, Lop Buri is not the only place grappling with the issue of mischievous macaques. Koh Chang in Trat is also experiencing similar problems and is considering implementing a plan to combat them, reported Bangkok Post.

In related news, two weeks ago a frenzy of ravenous monkeys cascaded down from Khao Sam Muk, invading Bang Saen Beach in Chon Buri province.

With desperation in their eyes, the furry bandits eagerly awaited sustenance from unsuspecting tourists, with some even resorting to car-climbing antics in a desperate bid for food.