Lop Buri macaque relocation underway

[misskit]

National park officials started the selective capture of aggressive macaques in Lop Buri’s Muang district yesterday, for relocation to an animal shelter in Nakhon Nayok province.


Controls on the distribution of food to the monkeys by members of the public are also tightened up, including fines for violators.


Initially, about 50 of the most aggressive monkeys have been targeted for relocation, said Krirkwit Phumipayak, chief of the Khao Somphot non-hunting area.

Tranquiliser darts are used to subdue the animals, which can take up to 5 minutes to take effect, during which the targeted monkeys try to escape by climbing on nearby buildings and they may get hurt when they fall on the ground when the effect of the tranquiliser kicks in, he said.


The operation is focused at the Phra Prang Sam Yot ancient ruins, the old Malai Rama theatre, Manora market and in front of Muang Thong hotel in Tha Hin sub-district, where many monkeys gather to feast on food given to them by animal lovers or to snatch food from shoppers.


A meeting of officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the governor, municipal officials and representatives of the civic groups was held yesterday at the Lop Buri provincial hall, to discuss issues related to the monkeys, such as the economic impacts and the suffering of people harassed by the monkeys.


It was disclosed that about 40% of some 150 shop houses on Wichayen and Sura Songkhram roads have closed down due to monkey harassment.


Several proposals were made during the meeting by business owners and ordinary people affected by the monkeys. These included compensation for affected businesses, reduction of rental fees charged by the municipality for the shop houses, rearrangement of the locations where food is given to the monkeys by the public and strict enforcement of the law against disorderly feeding of them.

Kannikar Maksasithorn, a businesswoman operating near the Malai Rama theatre, told Thai PBS reporters that her business has been badly affected by monkey harassment for over 20 years, forcing many others to move elsewhere.


She said that she hopes that, this time, the meeting will help ease, if not solve, the problem caused by the monkeys.


Meanwhile, national park officials explained details of the compensation available for people attacked by the monkeys, which came into effect last Saturday:


Bt100,000 in compensation for death, disability, loss of hands, legs or eyesight.
Bt50,000 for the loss of a hand, leg or eyesight.
Actual medical expenses for general injuries not exceeding 30,000 baht.
300 baht daily compensation for loss of wages due to absence from work, but not exceeding 180 days.


Lop Buri macaque relocation underway | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

[prawnograph]

Police fight back in Lopburi

Those slingshots may get national release, ideal for dealing with those pesky farangs

Not surprised most of the cops have their faces covered, how humiliating being on monkey patrol with no chance of bringing home any tea money

from Thairath today




The mobile anti-monkey force in action

[david44]

Ah the swings and Harrows of outrageous Fortunas ,

Hard to know whoe doing the monkey biz, red bsboy, the convict on parole, silly willy or nil by mouth

[Seekingasylum]

What on earth is wrong with poisoning the fuckers?

Macaques are two a penny globally.

Fuck ‘em.

[malmomike77]

What on earth is wrong with poisoning the fuckers?

Macaques are two a penny globally.

Fuck ‘em.

so are miserable pikeys

[BLD]

so are miserable pikeys

Guffaw

[misskit]

Government funding to be sought to improve monkey zoo in Lop Buri

The Lop Buri’s Muang district municipality plans to ask for 26 million baht from the government to improve the province’s monkey zoo, which is being used to house captured aggressive alpha macaques, according to Mayor Chamroen Salacheep.


He said that he has no idea when or if his request will be approved and the municipality has set aside some of its own money, amounting to a little over one million baht, to improve the shelter in Pho Khao Ton sub-district, which was partially built several years ago and remains incomplete due to the shortage of funding.


Now that the responsibility for supervision of the incomplete facility has been transferred from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to the municipality, he said that maintenance is required to improve the facility, such as the building of separate cages to house monkeys captured in different locations, to prevent them fighting with each other.


The shelter can currently only accommodate 800 monkeys, less than half of the estimated 2,000 residing in the old town area, said the mayor.


The second phase of the relocation plan was launched on Monday, focusing on the monkeys taking refuge at the abandoned Lop Buri Asia Hotel, Manohra market and the Chayo Wanich store.


The mayor said that a memorandum of understanding was signed in February, between the Nationals Park Department and the municipality, to fast-track the relocation plan with equipment and manpower support from the department.


Chamroen said that there are, however, mixed opinions about the plan to limit feeding of the monkeys, with one large group of residents believing that unrestricted feeding will spoil the monkeys and lead an increase in population, while another group contends that restricted feeding will leave them hungry and more aggressive.


He said that a workable alternative is to capture the aggressive members of the troop and relocate them.

Government funding to be sought to improve monkey zoo in Lop Buri | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

[misskit]

Locals Protest Thai Prime Minister Over Macaque Menace: Claim That Calls for Action on Lopburi’s Monkey Mayhem Go Unanswered

On April 22nd, 2024, Lopburi local media reported that Prang Khaek locals in Mueang, Lopburi, held a press conference and put up protest signs regarding Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, regarding measures to tackle the macaque problem.


Mr. Kanchantang Kitrattanakarn, the 68-year-old protest leader, and five others held a press conference and filed a letter to the chairmen of the Land Commission, Natural Resources and Environment, and the House of Representatives and put up signs to protest the Thai Prime Minister after the relevant agencies signed an MOU to tackle the macaque problem in Lopburi two months ago but has allegedly not made much progress.


According to the protesters, there was nothing progressing and the locals were blamed for bullying the macaques after they defended themselves from being attacked by the macaques, according to Kanchantang.
Kanchantang publicly revealed that the Department of National Parks previously promised the Lopburi locals to capture 2000 of the estimated 5000 macaques and send them to a designated zoo designed especially for the macaques. However, the plan was postponed infinitely.

Kanchantang also sent a personal letter to the Thai Prime Minister and held meetings with relevant agencies many times regarding the annoyance and inconvenience caused by the macaques. The macaque problem had escalated lately as locals were reportedly attacked multiple times in the past few months.

On the same day, Thai national media inspected Lopburi to follow up on the macaque problem. It was reported, ironically, that the protest signs were even ripped off and torn up by the macaques.

Previously, on April 11th, Thai national media reported a group of macaques reportedly stole food offerings to monks and neophytes. After that day, the neophytes reportedly refused to walk past this route again. Temple guardians reportedly used airsoft guns to fend off the macaques. However, the trick could be used for only a few days as the macaques were not afraid anymore.

Locals Protest Thai Prime Minister Over Macaque Menace: Claim That Calls for Action on Lopburi's Monkey Mayhem Go Unanswered - The Pattaya News

[david44]

Nuts. removal, serenity.

[cyrille]

That tranquiliser dart looks unusual.

[prawnograph]

Solution

[cyrille]

Kanchantang publicly revealed that the Department of National Parks previously promised the Lopburi locals to capture 2000 of the estimated 5000 macaques and send them to a designated zoo designed especially for the macaques. However, the plan was postponed infinitely.

Postponed 'infinitely' due no doubt to the total absence of anyone wanting to pay to visit a zoo comprising 2,000 macaques when there are 3,000 jumping winningly around Lopburi that can be seen for free.

[misskit]

Operation to capture Lop Buri’s notorious monkeys to continue next month

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has postponed the further capture of macaques in Lop Buri’s Muang district until May, because construction of a huge cage, in which to keep up to 700 monkeys, is not yet complete.


The department’s director-general, Atthaphon Charoenchansa, appealed for understanding from residents in the Muang district, assuring them that the department does not intend to delay the capture the monkeys for longer than necessary and it will continue once the cage at Pho Sam Ton sub-district is ready.


He said that the previous operation focused on capturing the male alphas, with over 30 being caught. The next round of captures will target the general monkey population.


This time, instead of using anaesthetic darts, Atthaphon said that officials will lure the monkeys into two cages, each of which is 1.8 metres tall, 1.8 metres wide and 12 metres long.


The two cages will be placed in front of Asia Hotel and Seng Heng shop, he said, adding that he expects about 10 monkeys are to be captured each time.


About 100 people, including 25 park officials and veterinarians, who will also sterilise the captured monkeys, army personnel from the 13th army circle and municipal officials, will take part in catching as many as 700 monkeys, which will help reduce the problems being caused by these primates in the old town area of the Muang district.

Operation to capture Lop Buri's notorious monkeys to continue next month | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

[misskit]

Monkey catching and relocating operation begins in Lopburi

Local authorities began the operation to relocate unruly monkeys, roaming the Lopburi city to a temporary shelter as a short-term measure to tackle the monkey overpopulation following an incident of food snatching causing injury.


May 15 marks the official start of the monkey capture operation in Lopburi, Thailand. The initial phase aims to capture 20 monkeys to test the newly constructed cages at the Pho Khao Ton Monkey Shelter.

Large cages have been placed in front of the Lopburi Asia Hotel. Small pieces of food, such as peanuts, are scattered to attract the monkeys into the cages and to keep the monkeys inside for longer.


The operation faces two main challenges: the monkeys’ intelligence and the dominant behavior of some troop leaders. To address the latter, authorities have captured and removed the dominant monkey to prevent him from discouraging others from entering the cages.

Some of the captured monkeys have already been neutered, as indicated by markings on their chests. These monkeys will undergo health checks before being placed in the cages. Those that haven’t been neutered will be prioritized for the procedure.




Mayor of Muang Lopburi, Jamroen Salacheep, the leader of the operation said monkeys are quick learners, so the capture locations need to be rotated regularly. The focus will be on monkeys that have separated from the main troop near the Phra Kan Shrine as they pose a direct threat to the community.


A nearby coffee shop owner, who has been in business for over 10 years, acknowledges the inherent mischievous nature of monkeys, especially with the growing population. However, she stresses the importance of finding ways to coexist with the monkeys.

The initial batch of captured monkeys, estimated at 20-25, will undergo a seven-day testing phase to evaluate various aspects, including feeding and behavior modification. Once this phase is complete, the remaining monkeys from the troop will be captured and housed in the cages.


Specialized veterinarian of the Department of National Parks, Pattarapol Manee-orn explains that the provided equipment aims to divert the monkeys’ attention from escape attempts and engage them in activities instead. Additionally, the dietary plan will be gradually adjusted, as these monkeys have been accustomed to human food, leading to nutritional issues. Fiber-rich leafy greens will be incorporated into their diet.


Efforts are underway to expedite the preparation of the remaining cages for operation. Once all five cages are complete, it is estimated that they will have the capacity to house approximately 3,000 monkeys. (TNA)

Monkey catching and relocating operation begins in Lopburi - Pattaya Mail

[DrWilly]

Someone is having a laugh.

5 of those cages won’t house 3,000

[david44]

Must taste vile or the locals would have devilled em in curry n noodles, sotra balti willy kkao soi with lemur grass

[malmomike77]

Monkey catching and relocating operation begins in Lopburi

Do they travel to France?

[misskit]

Lop Buri’s macaques relocation continues

As a new round of macaque captures is underway, Lop Buri province is looking to setup a new tourist attraction, to be called “Muang Pipob Vanorn” (or macaque city), to help re-organise and clean up the central district.


The mayor, Chamroen Slacheep, said that Lop Buri has faced a significant increase in the macaque population over the last 7-8 years.


This over-population is forcing the macaques out of their natural habitats, to forage for food near human dwellings. Now they occupy buildings all over town, he added.

The new monkey habitat project is the result of co-operation between the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and Lop Buri province.


The aims are to capture and relocate the monkeys to a better habitat, clean up Lop Buri town centre to revive tourism and the local economy and to allow the monkeys and people to live in harmony.

Chamroen also said that macaques are a symbol of Lop Buri, therefore they should be protected, in the same way as other local attractions.


26.5 million baht budget


With a budget of 26.5 million baht (about USD722,000), the plan is to add about 6,400 square metres to the existing 28,000-square-metre enclosure in the Pho Kao Ton monkey park, which will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 monkeys.


When the budget is approved, the project is expected to take about a year to complete. Meanwhile, the authorities are focusing on capturing about 1,000 macaque alphas and trouble makers.

Lop Buri municipality has prepared enough food to feed them for up to three months. In addition, visitors are welcome to bring fruit and other food to feed the monkeys at the park.


In general, the cost of feeding one monkey is between 15 and 20 baht per day and there are about 2,000 of them. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will supply medical necessities.


Revitalising “Muang Pipob Vanorn” and the local economy


According to Lop Buri’s mayor, the Pho Kao Ton monkey enclosure will eventually become an educational centre, where people can learn about macaques.


“After the monkeys are captured and relocated, there will be a big clean up in Lop Buri, to help bring tourism back,” he added.


Padej Laithong, director of the Wildlife Conservation Office, said that there is a framework in place with regards to the future of Lop Buri macaques. Local residents are also being consulted on the project to relocate the monkeys to Kao Som Phot sanctuary.

Lop Buri's macaques relocation continues - Thai PBS World