In Lop Buri, Thailand, a town famous for its long-tailed macaques, the initial charm of these playful primates has devolved into chaos and destruction, particularly for the local residents and businesses. Surachat Chanprasit, who serves as the deputy managing director of the Pingya Shopping Centre, recounts the mischief caused by the monkeys, describing them as cute yet incredibly clever and cheeky. The situation has escalated to the point where these monkeys invade shopping malls, wreaking havoc that results in significant damages to merchandise and property. Surachat emphasizes the costly consequences of their antics, including the destruction of electrical equipment to the extent of causing short circuits—an occurrence that repeats itself as they tear down the mall’s entrance sign every time it gets repaired. Moreover, as the monkeys become increasingly aggressive, they damage vehicles and snatch items from unsuspecting shoppers, which threatens local commerce.
Once seen as a tourist attraction, the long-tailed macaques have turned into a nuisance for residents. Their acrobatic behavior used to delight visitors, who would come to photograph them lounging around and interacting with the environment, particularly near the historic temple Phra Prang Sam Yot. This change in dynamic instigates tension between the monkeys and citizens, leading to incidents where people have been injured during interactions with the animals. Reports of aggressive encounters—including an incident where a woman twisted her knee and another where a man fell off his scooter due to a monkey’s antics—further highlight the growing tension. Local authorities are now faced with the challenge of managing these interactions to ensure the safety of both humans and monkeys, prompting them to consider various solutions.
The Thai National Parks authority is trying to address the issue, but limitations hinder effective intervention. Athapol Charoenshunsa, the authority’s director general, expressed a desire to avert human-animal conflicts but acknowledged the complexities of the matter. A police unit equipped with slingshots was deployed to control the macaque population, but results have been varied. The existing laws protect the macaques, which are critically endangered, and capturing or relocating them without government approval is illegal. Despite numerous attempts to curb their behavior, the authorities have only managed to capture a limited number of monkeys compared to the sizeable population that continues to roam free in the town.
As of now, Lop Buri has a significant concentration of macaques, with over 2,200 residing in an area populated by fewer than 60,000 people. Any measures to mitigate the monkey problem require a response from higher government bodies, including Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who acknowledged the monkeys’ significance to the town while also emphasizing public safety. The relationship between the monkeys and residents has been complicated by years of feeding, which has conditioned the monkeys to associate humans with food, exacerbating the problem. A sustainable long-term solution remains elusive, as locals and governmental authorities grapple with how to manage the balance between preserving the monkeys’ habitat and ensuring the safety and comfort of the town’s human inhabitants.
While some local residents, including Surachat, are calling for the monkeys to be removed from the protected species list in Thailand, animal rights activists argue for the preservation of these creatures. Underground discussions explore the possibility of moving most of the monkeys into large enclosures while keeping a smaller headcount in the city to accommodate both tourism and resident needs. However, setting up appropriate enclosures that would guarantee welfare for the animals is still a daunting task requiring time and resources.
In an attempt to mitigate the situation, Thailand’s government plans to set up a macaque control center where the captured monkeys will be sterilized before being relocated. However, until the necessary infrastructure is established, the monkeys will continue to roam freely in Lop Buri, providing both a tourist attraction and a source of frustration for locals. The dual nature of the monkeys as either beloved wildlife or troublesome invaders exemplifies the ongoing challenges faced by the town, underscoring the importance of finding viable solutions that respect both the animals and the community. As tourists continue to revel in the novelty of these creatures, residents hope for a resolution that will restore balance between their daily lives and the curious invaders that now threaten their peace.