The Objective: Controlling Population and Reducing Impact on Communities
Hua Hin’s local authorities have taken on the responsibility of sterilizing 300 monkeys by the end of September 2023. This initiative aims to control the monkey population and minimize their influence on local communities, ensuring a more peaceful coexistence.
Budget Allocation and Target Areas
The municipality has allocated a budget of 580,000 baht for the sterilization program. The primary focus is on monkeys residing near Hin Lek Fai and the Hua Hin golf course. Deputy Mayor Bussaba Chokesuchart has been overseeing the project in this popular resort town in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation’s Involvement
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is executing the program until September 24th. Wat Bussayabanphot is designated as the administrative center for the operation. According to Ms. Bussaba, the DNP team plans to target monkeys living near Khao Takiab, a popular tourist area in the town’s south end, in the next phase.
Ongoing Efforts and Results
Approximately 100 monkeys have been captured in the past week, with many of them found to have already been sterilized. This is not the first time such a program has been implemented; it started in 2017 with the intention of reducing the monkey population and mitigating their negative impacts on local residents and tourists.
Since the program’s inception, thousands of monkeys have been sterilized. Ms. Bussaba believes that this method is currently the most effective solution to ensure harmonious coexistence between the local residents and the animals.
Future Prospects
Hua Hin’s municipality is determined to complete the sterilization of 300 monkeys before the end of the month, setting a precedent for other communities facing similar challenges. Although the program has shown promising results so far, it remains to be seen how effective it will be in the long run and whether other areas in Thailand will adopt similar approaches to address the issue of monkey overpopulation.
