Thai police forms special unit to tackle aggressive monkey menace
In the central plains province of Lop Buri, Thailand, a special police unit has been established to apprehend aggressive macaque monkeys causing havoc for the local populace. The head of the Lop Buri Provincial Police, 45 year old Apirak Vetkanchana, gave orders to 38 year old Kantaphon Wanna, the superintendent of Tha Hin Police, to organise a monkey suppression unit. This unit started its operations yesterday.
Apirak sanctioned the acquisition of slingshots for the police officers to defend against the hostile monkeys. Previously, the police used sedatives to tame the monkeys, however, the animals would become dormant only after five minutes, providing them ample time to escape to various locations, including rooftops of buildings, thereby endangering people.
Locals have shown positive response towards the operation on its very first day. This initiative was taken following Saturday’s agreement by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to recompense individuals who have been attacked by macaques. This decision is in response to the increasing number of incidents in Lop Buri, including at least three major cases this month.
Over 10 officials from Wildlife Conservation Office 1 in Saraburi have been stationed to handle the monkey menace around the Provincial Agriculture and Cooperatives Office on Ratchadamnoen Road in Tambon Tha Hin. This area is notorious for monkeys swiping belongings from pedestrians. The officials have set up cages throughout the region and successfully trapped nine monkeys yesterday and another seven today.
Wildlife conservation director, Sutthipong Kaemtubtim, confirmed that the 18 captured monkeys were transported to a wildlife clinic in Saraburi for health assessments. After the health check, the monkeys will be relocated to a suitable place for approximately two months before being returned to Lop Buri.
The Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is contemplating potential solutions to the monkey problem, including the possibility of housing them in a zoo. DNP officials yesterday positioned additional cages on Ratchadamnoen Road and captured five more monkeys, reported Bangkok Post.
The monkey problem in Lop Buri has been persisting for several years, with a recent study documenting a population of 5,709 macaques living wildly in the province in 2023. The macaques are safeguarded by the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act.
