The Lop Buri Provincial Police, led by Pol Maj Gen Apirak Vetkanchana, has initiated a monkey suppression squad under the supervision of Pol Col Kantaphon Wanna from the Tha Hin Police.

The team, which started on Monday, will use slingshots as a non-lethal method to manage the monkeys more effectively than previous sedative shooting, which proved too slow and risky.

The first day's efforts were well-received by the community, responding to recent increased incidents and monkey attacks.

To complement these efforts, wildlife officials have been trapping monkeys for relocation, capturing 16 individuals in two days near the Provincial Agriculture and Cooperatives Office, a hotspot for monkey thefts.

These animals are being health-checked before temporary relocation, with the ultimate aim of addressing the broadly felt issue.

The Department of Natural Resources is considering long-term solutions, including potentially housing these monkeys in a zoo, to better manage the growing population, which a 2023 study estimated at 5,709 in Lop Buri.

Despite being protected under the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, the monkeys’ disruptive behavior has necessitated these measures.