Monkeys take over Thai city

Hungry monkeys in Thailand - 13th July 2020

Hungry macaque monkeys are attacking local people in the streets of Lopburi, Thailand.

Monkeys are normally accepted in the old city because they attract tourists. Visitors buy food for the monkeys which helps the local community. However, because of the Coronavirus, the city is empty of tourists. Monkeys are looking for food in big, dangerous groups.

People have given unhealthy food to the monkeys. They hope the monkeys won’t touch them but this might make the problem worse. The monkeys are eating more sugar so they have more energy and they are having many babies.

The macaques are moving through the streets and climbing walls. They are breaking cars and living in buildings. They are even putting dead monkeys in a cinema, which is creating a very bad smell. The population of monkeys has already grown very fast.

Animal experts are trying to stop the population of macaques growing. Officers are putting food near traps. Then they catch the monkeys and take them to a vet. The vets operate on the animals so they can’t have babies. Experts are planning a monkey zoo. However, some local people don’t want any monkeys in the city.