This Thai tourist town has a monkey gang problem, here’s what police are doing to control them
Monkey
A tourist town, Lopburi in Thailand is suffering from its own kind of nightmare: rampaging monkey gangs. To fight these primates, police in Thailand are using tranquiliser guns. These monkeys are notorious for vandalising property, and stealing food and other important things from local vendors and tourists alike.
The monkey 'capital' Lopburi
This town around 90 miles north of the capital Bangkok, has become known for its monkey population. The local police are using wooden catapults to handle the raucous monkeys.
What is local police doing to stop monkey menace?
Police Major General Apirak Wechkanchana told Daily Mail, "I am aware of the potential danger from monkeys. They have started to pose a threat to tourists and locals. The slingshots now being carried by our officers will help to threaten the monkeys when necessary."
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Wechkanchana ordered theestablishment of a special police unit to combat monkeys. "In most cases, they only need to use the slingshots as a deterrent, they don't have to use objects to strike the monkeys," he said. The police unit has also been tasked with preventing the monkeys from stealing or vandalising items.
Staff at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation are also catching some of the worst monkey offenders and relocating them. Nathi Krutthaka, Conservation Bureau Officer No. 1, told Daily Mail, "We had to hide our faces and conceal the tranquiliser guns so the monkeys wouldn't see them."
Staff at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation team caught the monkey gang leader, 'Ai Krao'. Ai Krao was sedated and moved to another place.
Though the monkeys have taken over empty buildings and staged multiple massive gang fights, locals are keen to keep the monkeys in the town. Ironically these monkeys who cause so much damage and ruckus are also responsible for drawing tourists from around the world who feed them treats.
(With inputs from agencies)
