Lop Buri Seeks Capture of 800 Monkeys to Manage Urban Mischief

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

In Lop Buri, officials are set to capture up to 800 monkeys around the historic Phra Prang Sam Yot, following last year's successful entrapment of over 2,400 to curb disruptions. This effort, part of the province’s annual initiative, focuses on population control of the monkeys, known for causing havoc in urban areas.

On March 18th, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and local authorities made strides in managing the situation by preparing to relocate more than 300 monkeys. Captured previously yet pending sterilisation, these monkeys have become a priority for the Lop Buri municipal animal hospital's latest sterilisation campaign.

A dedicated team of over 20 veterinarians is stationed in Lop Buri to conduct health checks, sterilise, and tattoo the monkeys for identification purposes. This forms part of the comprehensive plan to stabilise the monkey population for the 2025 fiscal year.

The new capture operation is slated to commence on March 23, 2025. Locations will include Phra Prang Sam Yot and the Kosah community, aiming initially for 500 to 800 monkeys to prevent their expansion into residential and commercial sites.

Delays in previous rounds were noted due to incomplete trapping infrastructure, allowing some monkeys to wander into homes and raise public concern over potential disturbances. As Lop Buri navigates these challenges, capturing and managing the monkey population remains a priority to maintain urban harmony, reported The Thaiger.