Plan to give Bangkok’s monkeys new home, instead of evacuating them

Prasert Chawee-in, director of the Bang Khun Thian district authority, said they did not agree with the proposal by a committee of the National Legislative Assembly to catch the monkeys and release them to Phuket’s uninhabited islands.
Prasert said his was the only district in Bangkok that had five groups of monkeys of long-tailed macaques.
He said the largest group lived near the Khun Kala Monument, which is known as “Monkey Monument” on the frontage road on the southern part of the western ring road in Tha Kham subdistrict.

Prasert said the district already owned a land-locked plot of 13 rai near Klong Chalermchai Pattana, just 500 metres from the monument and the district administration was now rushing to improve the ecology system on the plot in order to make it habitable for the monkeys.
It would also be launching a public relations campaign, asking for people to feed the monkeys there instead of by the roadside.
Prasert said the district would grow fruit trees for the monkeys and erect fences to prevent them from coming out to cause trouble to people.
After the project is completed, the district will turn the plot into an open zoo for people to visit.
He said the district also intends building a road to the monkeys’ new home and creating a water flow to it from a nearby canal, which is linked to the sea in Bang Khun Thian, to promote tourism.
He said the district had already discussed the project with the monkey management committee of the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.