Songkhla Municipality introduces a new staff member "Nong Kluay Khai" a macaque joining the mission to control "long-tailed macaques," pushing them back to nature while patrolling and ensuring safety at Laem Samila tourist site.
On 16 July 2026, reporters noted this became a topic widely discussed online when the Facebook pageSongkhla Municipality - Songkhla Cityintroduced their new staff member "Nong Kluay Khai" a macaque assigned to work alongside contractors to patrol and drive long-tailed macaques out of public areas and key tourist spots in Songkhla Municipality, reducing disturbances to residents and tourists while ensuring safety in public spaces.
"Nong Kluay Khai" will serve for three months, working every other day with officials along important routes, stationed at each point for one hour. These include the Golden Mermaid statue at Laem Samila, the cave in Tang Kuan Hill, Municipal School 4 (Ban Laem Sai), Songkhla Provincial Red Cross Office, the Village Health Volunteer Club Auditorium, Songkhla Municipality, the Quality of Life Development and Elderly Occupation Promotion Center, and the Japanese Garden—areas where long-tailed macaques commonly forage and cause trouble for locals.
Using a macaque to manage long-tailed macaques is a strategy aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflicts by encouraging the long-tailed macaques to return appropriately to natural habitats, lessening disturbances to communities and tourists, and balancing coexistence between people and wildlife. This ensures Laem Samila remains a safe, orderly, and attractive tourist destination for all.
Information courtesy of Songkhla Municipality - Songkhla City Facebook page