This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
Macaque Attack: Humans Try to Take Back Thai City from Monkeys ¶
June 24, 2020
Residents of Lopburi, Thailand, are living in fear as a growing population of aggressive monkeys takes over the city. The macaques, which have doubled in number to 6,000 in just three years, are becoming increasingly violent and are being blamed for a surge in attacks on humans.
According to local residents, the monkeys are being fueled by a diet of junk food, including fizzy drinks, cereal, and sweets. This has led to a significant increase in their energy levels and breeding habits, with some speculating that the monkeys are breeding more frequently due to their high sugar intake.
"The more they eat, the more energy they have... so they breed more," says Pramot Ketampai, who manages the Prang Sam Yod temple's surrounding shrines.
The situation has become so dire that the Thai government has restarted a sterilization campaign to try and control the population. Wildlife department officers are luring the animals into cages with fruit and taking them to a clinic where they are anaesthetized, sterilized, and left with a tattoo to mark their neutering.
However, the campaign may not be enough to quell the monkeys' numbers, and the department has a long-term plan to build a sanctuary in another part of the city. But this plan is likely to be met with resistance from the human residents, who are already struggling to cope with the monkey menace.
"We need to do a survey of the people living in the area first," said Narongporn Daudduem from the wildlife department. "It's like dumping garbage in front of their houses and asking them if they're happy or not."
