Monkey Business: Balancing Conservation and Economic Interests in Lopburi

In the small city of Lopburi, located just 140 kilometers from Bangkok, monkeys and Buddhist monks lived in perfect harmony for centuries. However, when the government decided to promote tourism in the area, an influx of visitors disrupted the peaceful lives of these monkeys, leading to disruptive behavior.

According to local business owners, over 3,500 monkeys had taken over Lopburi’s cityscape, wreaking havoc on establishments and causing financial losses. The monkeys would enter businesses and steal food before harassing customers, leading to a decline in tourism.

In an attempt to restore order and boost tourism once again, authorities planned to capture and relocate 2,500 monkeys to open spaces away from urban areas. However, animal groups raised concerns about the potential for illegal trafficking of these captured monkeys for biomedical experiments.

With prices soaring due to restrictions on sales from China during the pandemic, poachers saw an opportunity in places like Lopburi where mischievous monkeys roamed freely. As authorities began their capture program, they faced challenges in balancing conservation efforts with economic interests.

The situation in Lopburi highlighted the complex relationship between humans and wildlife, especially as global circumstances continue to evolve.