Lopburi is in turmoil as nearly a hundred monkeys broke out of cages at the municipal animal nursery late at night, invading homes in the surrounding area. The governor joined forces with relevant agencies for an urgent field operation to repair cages and set bait traps to recapture them. The cause is believed to be extreme heat and the monkeys’ desire for freedom.
This morning (30 June), chaos erupted at the Lopburi Municipal Animal Nursery in Pho Kao Ton Subdistrict, Mueang Lopburi District, after reports came in that nearly 100 monkeys belonging to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, which were temporarily kept there, broke out of their cages and scattered into nearby residential areas. More than 1,000 other monkeys in the same cage remained under control and did not escape.
Following the incident, Veerapong Ritrod, the Governor of Lopburi, along with Jamroen Salachip, Mayor of Lopburi Municipality, and related agencies, arrived on-site to urgently plan the recapture operation. They deployed municipal officers and Department of National Parks staff who used tranquilizer guns and set bait cages at various points. Some monkeys have already been recaptured, while others continue to linger around the cages due to hunger and heat.
Governor Veerapong Ritrod also stated that after recapturing the escaped monkeys, they will repair the damaged cage areas to strengthen them. Regarding the long-term solution,they plan to improve the monkey cages by making them sturdier with double layers and establish a foundation to manage food costs and the monkeys’ quality of life moving forward.
