Nearly 100 monkeys escaped from a government-run enclosure in Lopburi, Thailand, prompting a large-scale effort by officials to recapture the animals. The macaques broke through a section of the Lopburi Municipality Animal Nursery overnight.
Officials managed to prevent more than 1,000 other monkeys housed at the facility from escaping. Provincial officials, wildlife authorities, and municipal workers searched nearby residential areas for the escaped animals. To lure some of the monkeys back, authorities used cages baited with food. Larger and more dominant macaques required tranquilizer darts for capture.
While recapture efforts were underway, crews worked to repair and reinforce the damaged enclosure. Lopburi Governor Weeraphong Ritrod stated that the enclosure had been repaired and reinforced to prevent future escapes. Plans are also in motion to construct a more secure, double-layer enclosure to contain dominant monkeys.
The province is preparing to establish a foundation to support food costs and improve the welfare of the monkeys. Mayor Chamroen Salacheep suggested that hunger, extreme heat, overcrowding, or natural roaming instincts might have contributed to the escape. He also issued an apology to affected residents and encouraged those with property damage to report it for assessment and potential assistance.
Lopburi is known for its significant population of free-roaming macaques, which have historically caused issues for residents and businesses due to property damage and aggressive behavior. In recent years, authorities have attempted to manage the macaque population through sterilization programs and by relocating animals to specialized enclosures.