Locals in Rassada agree to monkey birth control, moving some to nearby islands

More than 180 locals attended the hearing to discuss the problems posed by the monkey population in the area.

Five suitable islands off the coast of Phuket have been surveyed with a view to moving some of Phuket’s monkeys. 
The suggested islands – all uninhabited – are Koh Ngam, Koh Pa Yu, Koh Mali, Koh Pae and Koh Tanan.
Large water tanks will be prepared and placed on the islands to provide adequate hydration for the monkeys, all of which will be sterilised from July 5 to 25. 

All locals in the Tha Chin community agreed to birth control for the monkeys and the proposal to move some of them to the islands.
Community president Soonthorn Poonprasert said: “People are increasingly getting into trouble with the 300 monkeys, especially people who live next to a mangrove forest. Sometimes the monkeys snatch food from their hands, but they do not bite people. I agreed to monkey sterilisation and moving some of the aggressive ones to islands off the coast.”
Lamyong Kraikra, a 55-year-old local resident, said: “I have lived here for more than 20 years. Before, we never had problems with monkeys.

Three years ago we started having monkey problems. People both outside and inside the community are feeding them. Monkeys have since started to break into houses twice a day, especially when it is low tide.”
“Our roofs are damaged, as well as property inside the houses. We want some monkeys to be moved to islands in order to decrease the local population.

We request people from outside not to give food to these monkeys. Let these monkeys find food by themselves,” Lamyong added.