MThe mischievous long-tailed gibbon is for many the symbol of the Thai city of Lopburi. Tourists flock to the city's ancient temples to feed fresh fruit to monkeys and take photos of monkeys raiding the streets. But a growing number of residents say enough is enough.
After growing complaints from residents, wildlife officials this week announced plans to round up 2,500 urban monkeys and put them in large enclosures. The incident follows an incident in March in which a woman was kicked in the back by a monkey that had targeted her for food, dislocating her knee. Separately, a man lost control of his motorcycle after a monkey tried to snatch a bag of food from him.
“We don't want humans to hurt monkeys, and we don't want monkeys to hurt humans,” Attapol Charoenshunsa, director of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Protection Department, told a news conference. .
Some people have fed the monkeys for generations and feel that they are part of the city's identity. Others say the macaque population is growing too large, causing damage to businesses and property and endangering people's health.
“People say if there are no monkeys, it's not Lopburi,” one resident, Fairot, told Thai broadcaster Channel 3. “To those who say so, I want them to take the monkeys into their homes and take care of them.I will give them five monkeys to each house and ten monkeys to each house.I will also bring food to their homes.'' I’ll help you deliver it.”
Monkeys are notorious for ambushing people and businesses for snacks. Some food vendors carry slingshots to intimidate animals if they approach. The store has installed metal bars to deter intruders and displays large toy animals such as crocodiles and tigers. When Thai Prime Minister Sureta Thabisin visited the city earlier this year, residents gave him a printed frame of an image that had gone viral on social media of a girl walking around the city with a toy gun to warn off monkeys. I tried to give it to him. city.
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Asapole said the first phase of the capture operation will begin in the coming weeks and the enclosure will be large enough to house thousands of monkeys. A small number of macaques will be allowed to remain in the city.
Wildlife officials began rounding up the most ferocious males last week and have captured 37 so far. Thai media said four gang leaders were among those arrested. A fifth monkey known for stealing underwear and necklaces from stores remains at large.
Rival ape armies occupy various buildings, including an abandoned movie theater. Officials say the monkeys will be kept in groups in enclosures.
“Some people like monkeys, and some people don't. I think the number of monkeys has increased significantly compared to 10 years ago,” said resident Job Jirapat, who understands both sides. He added that
Authorities conducted a sterilization campaign, neutering approximately 2,600 macaques between 2014 and 2023.
Female monkeys can reproduce twice a year, and because they have been fed sugary treats for decades, they have enough energy reserves to reproduce. Last year's population was 5,709.
“If you can consistently perform sterilization, it's a good long-term solution,” Jobe said. “I feel like the government didn't take this issue seriously. They might not have been able to continue due to lack of funding and that's why the monkey population is growing so quickly. Another thing to do is to stop feeding the monkeys.”
Experts have long called for more education about what types of food monkeys can be fed, and when and how they should be fed. The state hosts an annual “monkey buffet” festival, where monkeys are generously provided with fruit and other treats.
Asapore said rounding up the monkeys in stages would “quickly solve the problem” but some people were skeptical. “Honestly, it doesn't make any difference if the police only arrest a few people or only the mean ones,” noodle seller Panya Paopahor told Channel 7 television.
Jobe said monkeys may be a symbol of cities, but fewer monkeys would improve people's quality of life and keep cities cleaner. “And I think there’s more to Lopburi than just monkeys.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article
