Public to decide the fate of trouble-making monkeys in Thailand
Relocating the animals to unpopulated islands is among the options being considered
By Apinya Wipatayotin
Thailand’ Phuket province will hold a public meeting next month to come up with ways to deal with a growing monkey population that has become menace to residents and tourists.
The meeting will be open to residents, representatives from the tourist industry, provincial officials and animal lovers to exchange ideas and propose solutions, said a source from the provincial panel set up to deal with the problem.
The province has been facing a growing monkey population despite attempts — including sterilisation — by authorities to contain their numbers.
“If people think that sterilisation is enough, we will continue that course of action,” said the source. “But if they agree to relocate them to other islands, we will do it.”
Relocation to unpopulated islands is among the options the panel is weighing up. It has already looked at five locations — Koh Ngam, Koh Payu, Koh Tanan, Koh Pae and Koh Malee.
