Surat Thani governor orders action against 400 invading monkeys
Officials are working out a plan to deal with 400 long-tailed macaques that have been invading fruit orchards and oil palm plantations for months in Surat Thani.
Provincial governor Wichawut Jinto issued the order after receiving complaints from residents of the southern province’s Phunphin district that the monkeys have caused damage to their orchards and plantations.
Officials from the provincial administration have visited the local residents to listen to their grievances.
The officials then reported to the governor that the provincial administration must seek help from the Surat Thani-based 4th Conservation Office of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation that has direct responsibility for wild monkeys.
Pradit Thongchan, chief of Tambon Thakham Administrative Organisation, said the wild monkeys travel in groups of 200, causing a lot of damage to fruits and vegetables grown by the local people.
Pradit said local villagers have filed complaints several times but no agency came to help them.