Thai wildlife officials in Lopburi have announced a plan to address conflicts between humans and monkeys that have been ongoing for at least a decade. The macaques in the city are a significant part of the local culture and a major tourist attraction. However, dangerous encounters between people and monkeys have led to injuries and frustration among residents and visitors. Efforts to control the population have not been successful. In response, authorities are planning to round up about 2,500 urban monkeys and place them in large enclosures. They also aim to find a way for a limited number of monkeys to remain free in the city.
Incidents involving monkeys stealing food from humans have escalated, with one woman suffering a dislocated knee after a monkey pulled her to the ground, and another man being knocked off a motorcycle by a hungry monkey. The situation has prompted authorities to take action to protect both humans and monkeys. An official monkey-catching campaign has been launched, focusing on capturing more aggressive alpha males. In the initial phase, 37 monkeys have been caught and placed under wildlife authorities’ care. The plan is to capture the remaining monkeys once the enclosures are ready, particularly those in residential areas, to prevent conflicts between different troops of monkeys.
Lopburi’s monkeys are a symbol of the province and are featured in an annual “Monkey Buffet” festival at a local temple. Macaques are a protected species under Thailand’s wildlife conservation law. Some people blame the influx of monkeys in the city on tourists and residents feeding the animals, attracting them to urban areas and increasing their numbers. However, efforts to limit feeding in designated areas led to more aggressive behavior as rival monkey groups sought food elsewhere. Authorities stress the importance of not demonizing the monkeys and suggest that more effective population control measures are needed to address the issue.
Wildlife officials acknowledge that previous attempts to control the Lopburi monkey population have fallen short, with about 2,600 macaques being neutered between 2014 and 2023. They are also dealing with similar monkey-related problems in other parts of Thailand, including Prajuab Kiri Khan and Phetchaburi. Of the country’s 77 provinces, 52 report frequent issues with monkeys. Authorities emphasize the need for people to adjust to living alongside monkeys and provide them with natural food sources to reduce their reliance on human food. The plan to place monkeys in large enclosures and allow a limited number to roam freely aims to address the ongoing conflicts and create a sustainable solution for both humans and monkeys in Lopburi.
