On August 26, 2024, a sterilization program for long-tailed macaques began in Hua Hin, aiming to control the monkey population in the municipal area. The initiative, part of the 2024 fiscal year budget, aims to sterilize 150 monkeys within Hua Hin municipality. The procedures are being conducted at Wat Bussiya Banphot (Khao Ton Ngiew) by a team led by Surasak Anumethangkoon, the director of the Wildlife Conservation Division, along with veterinarians and relevant officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul noted that the sterilization efforts have been ongoing for seven years in collaboration with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. This year, municipal authorities visited the area to gain insights on the scientific methods used to capture and manage the monkeys, as instructed by wildlife experts. The Hua Hin municipality plans to refurbish bird cages on Khao Hin Lek Fai to create temporary shelters for the monkeys, similar to the shelters used for stray dogs at the city’s dog sanctuary.
The primary goal of the sterilization program is to manage the population and reduce the monkeys’ ability to reproduce. However, Mayor Nopporn acknowledged that while sterilization prevents population growth, it does not fully resolve the nuisance caused by monkeys, who continue to forage in residential and tourist areas due to a lack of natural food sources. To address this, the municipality, in conjunction with the Department of National Parks, plans to build new enclosures in less disruptive areas to accommodate the excess monkey population. This approach is seen as a solution to prevent the displacement of monkeys to other communities, which could exacerbate human-wildlife conflicts elsewhere.
It was reported that Hua Hin municipality is working closely with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to inform residents of their ongoing efforts to mitigate the monkey problem. Officials are committed to finding all possible solutions to minimize disturbances caused by the macaques, aiming to reduce their impact on local communities as much as possible.
Later in the day, Hua Hin Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul, accompanied by municipal council member Sappop Uengratsamee, Jirawat Phrammanee, the municipal clerk, Suthipong Pasurat, the acting head of the municipal office, and disaster prevention and mitigation officers, visited the Monkey Garden community to observe the first day of sterilizations. The visit was part of the municipal team’s efforts to oversee the program’s implementation and understand its impact on the community.
