Thai City Fixing up Monkey Problem
2024-11-21
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1People will no longer have to fight with monkeys in the historic Thai city of Lopburi.
2That is because of new efforts to keep the animals from reproducing and to limit their movements.
3Before public health measures to control COVID-19 closed businesses in Lopburi, about 3,000 long-tailed macaques lived there.
4The people of the city fed them and even had a yearly party for them.
5Tourists came to the city north of Bangkok to see the macaques in what was known as "Monkey City."
6The macaques are believed to bring good luck.
7They live in the nearby forests and have long been a part of the city's history.
8But after Lopburi came out of the pandemic lockdown in the middle of 2022, people found that the monkeys had become unruly without people feeding them.
9Groups of macaques had taken over buildings.
10They stole food and caused accidents by walking in the streets.
11Groups of the monkeys also fought each other, shocking local people.
12Some of the townspeople put up cages around their homes to keep the monkeys out.
13Wisarut Somngam is a local researcher with the non-governmental organization, Ecoexist Society.
14He said the monkeys would steal from people by taking any container they thought might contain food.
15People began to carry slingshots, a small weapon that shoots stones, to protect against the monkeys.
16Earlier this year, officials began their efforts to catch the macaques.
17By May, they were increasing the effort to prevent the monkeys from reproducing that began during the pandemic.
18"Our goal is to neuter all the monkeys, 100 percent of them," said local veterinarian Patarapol Maneeorn from the government wildlife department in September.
19The monkeys would then be put into an area where they will be looked after, he said.
20Now, the situation in the city seems to be under control, as the officials have captured 1,600 of the monkeys.
21Some animal rights groups agree the monkeys should be neutered, but they do not want them to be kept in captivity.
22Edwin Wiek is founder of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand.
23He said, "The monkeys are suffering because currently they're in a cage that is not designed for them."
24Wiek pressed the government to increase funding for the government wildlife department to train people in animal care and treatment.
25The people of Lopburi are happy that the streets are safe again.
26Clock maker Chalit Nithiwkram said, "Things have become a little easier because most of the monkeys were captured. Life is easier."
27He said his business is improving because people are no longer afraid to park near his shop.
28For others, the monkeys are important to Lopburi.
29Supaporn Reanprayoorn operates a store near a temple where monkeys often gathered.
30"Monkeys are part of Lopburi's identity," she said.
31She sometimes gave them a little food.
32"Let tourists take pictures with them - just a hundred or two," she joked.
33I'm Andrew Smith.
1People will no longer have to fight with monkeys in the historic Thai city of Lopburi. 2That is because of new efforts to keep the animals from reproducing and to limit their movements. 3Monkey City 4Before public health measures to control COVID-19 closed businesses in Lopburi, about 3,000 long-tailed macaques lived there. The people of the city fed them and even had a yearly party for them. Tourists came to the city north of Bangkok to see the macaques in what was known as "Monkey City." 5The macaques are believed to bring good luck. They live in the nearby forests and have long been a part of the city's history. But after Lopburi came out of the pandemic lockdown in the middle of 2022, people found that the monkeys had become unruly without people feeding them. 6Groups of macaques had taken over buildings. They stole food and caused accidents by walking in the streets. Groups of the monkeys also fought each other, shocking local people. Some of the townspeople put up cages around their homes to keep the monkeys out. 7Stealing food 8Wisarut Somngam is a local researcher with the non-governmental organization, Ecoexist Society. He said the monkeys would steal from people by taking any container they thought might contain food. People began to carry slingshots, a small weapon that shoots stones, to protect against the monkeys. 9Earlier this year, officials began their efforts to catch the macaques. By May, they were increasing the effort to prevent the monkeys from reproducing that began during the pandemic. 10"Our goal is to neuter all the monkeys, 100 percent of them," said local veterinarian Patarapol Maneeorn from the government wildlife department in September. The monkeys would then be put into an area where they will be looked after, he said. 11Capture of monkeys 12Now, the situation in the city seems to be under control, as the officials have captured 1,600 of the monkeys. Some animal rights groups agree the monkeys should be neutered, but they do not want them to be kept in captivity. 13Edwin Wiek is founder of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand. He said, "The monkeys are suffering because currently they're in a cage that is not designed for them." Wiek pressed the government to increase funding for the government wildlife department to train people in animal care and treatment. 14The people of Lopburi are happy that the streets are safe again. Clock maker Chalit Nithiwkram said, "Things have become a little easier because most of the monkeys were captured. Life is easier." He said his business is improving because people are no longer afraid to park near his shop. 15For others, the monkeys are important to Lopburi. Supaporn Reanprayoorn operates a store near a temple where monkeys often gathered. "Monkeys are part of Lopburi's identity," she said. She sometimes gave them a little food. "Let tourists take pictures with them - just a hundred or two," she joked. 16I'm Andrew Smith. 17Artorn Pookasook reported this story for Reuters. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. 18___________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20cage - n. a box made of wire or metal bars in which people keep animals or birds 21neuter - v. to remove the sex organs from (an animal) 22What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments Section.