Former capital of the kingdom of Ayutthaya, Lopburi has emerged as an essential tourist destination.
Located 150 kilometers north of Bangkok, the Thai capital, the peaceful city enchants visitors with its architecture which combines modernity and Buddhist temples.
Then the monkeys arrived.
First in the temples, to the great delight of the tourists, pilfering some food here and there or stealing sunglasses.
At its peak, there were 2,000 of them sharing the city, for 27,000 inhabitants.
Then Covid got involved.
Two years of famine for the macaques who took the opportunity to reproduce in numbers.
There are now almost 6,000. The authorities had anticipated and ordered a sterilization campaign from 2020 with 500 individuals concerned.
In vain.
The residents then equipped themselves with air guns and slingshots to keep them away.
Once again, in vain.
Four years ago,
Le Figaro
already reported on this situation.
Today, it seems out of control and the aggressiveness of the monkeys is spreading panic throughout the city.
Fights, screams, attacks, theft of cell phones and cameras, the tourists are in a state of shock.
Deprived of food during Covid, they developed dementia.
Organized into gangs, they raid everything, enter businesses, force the gates with batons, attack adults and children alike, ransacking the city and its businesses, night and day.
A situation worthy of a dystopian film of vociferous monkeys, with gaunt silhouettes, who haunt temples dedicated to spirituality.
In short, the situation is dantesque: the critters jump from roof to roof looking for the opening of a home, hang from electrical cables, congregate on parked cars and residents hesitate to venture into the streets in the open. from Lopburi.
So much so that the local economy is suffering, according to the Thai daily Khaosod which reported in January that stores in the city center were threatening to close or move, and certain Chinese investors were threatening to withdraw.
Backup veterinarians
The Thai authorities have taken stock of the disaster, both in terms of tourism and health.
They sent veterinarians from Bangkok to train municipal staff to deal with the monkeys, deter them and keep them away in a dedicated sanctuary in a temple.
To do this, traders and residents leave leftover food at the entrance.
Problem is, it often involves sweets and
junk food
which give macaques extra energy to reproduce.
Paradoxically, monkeys are revered in Thailand.
They are considered descendants of Hanuman, the king of the monkeys.
In addition, among Buddhists, they are the symbol of wisdom with the three monkeys: the mute, the blind and the deaf.
This is one of the reasons why the residents refuse to see them leave the city.
Others consider that, if controlled, they remain a considerable tourist asset for the city.
ON VIDEO -
Thailand: invaded by macaques, “the city of monkeys” strikes back (2020)