Quick Take
- Authorities kept 1,000 monkeys inside that same night, yet nearly 100 still managed to get out. See how many escaped →
- One group of monkeys picked a target so brazen during the chaos that it reads like a punchline, and the target wasn't another enclosure. Read about the police station break-in →
- This escape is no freak incident. It is the latest flashpoint in a years-long war between a city and its out-of-control primate population. Explore the longer conflict →
Monkeys are known for their intelligence and agility, making them especially adept at breaking out of chains and escaping enclosures. They are smart, agile, and have the finger dexterity to solve even the most delicate puzzles. That is why authorities are scrambling to capture more than 100 monkeys that escaped from a municipal animal nursery in Thailand.
According to several media outlets, a large troop of monkeys escaped from a municipal enclosure during the night of June 30th. Since then, wildlife authorities and municipal workers have gone house to house trying to round up the escaped primates. Here is more information about this developing story, including details on how the monkeys escaped and how many have been recaptured so far.
Broken Bars
Macaques have become a serious problem in Lopburi, attacking tourists and destroying property in their quest for food.
©Bubbers BB/Shutterstock.com
Sometime during the night of June 30th, scores of monkeys managed to break through the confines of their enclosure at the Lopburi Municipality Animal Nursery and ran wild through the streets. Though workers were able to keep another 1,000 monkeys from escaping the facility the following morning, the damage had been done. Over 100 monkeys were free, roaming through surrounding neighborhoods in the Mueang Lopburi district of central Thailand.
Authorities quickly launched a large-scale effort to recapture the monkeys. This prompted wildlife officials and municipal workers to search residential streets the following day for any sign of the escaped primates. Their efforts were partly successful. Some monkeys were lured back into custody with cages baited with food.
Other attempts, however, required more force. Some of the larger and more dominant macaques were not lured by the baited cages. Officials had to shoot them with tranquilizer darts before capturing them. Meanwhile, crews worked to repair the damaged enclosure at the nursery to prevent further escapes. Mayor Chamroen Salacheep said that officials plan to build a more secure, double-layer enclosure in the future.
The Damage Done
According to various media reports, no one was injured in the chaos. Buildings and surrounding property, however, sustained damage from monkeys looking for food. Several monkeys even broke into the Tha Hin Police Station, climbing over desks and office equipment before escaping.
The situation was chaotic until authorities began using tranquilizer guns. This resulted in the capture of more than 130 monkeys, which were returned to their repaired enclosure. The search continues for any remaining escapees still hiding in the city.
Old Wounds
This large-scale escape is the latest chapter in an ongoing conflict between macaques and local authorities, which has been unfolding in the region for at least five years. The area, Lopburi, has a reputation for its large population of free-roaming macaques. However, this population has grown out of control. In 2024, a campaign removed thousands of monkeys living in historic parts of the city. It remains to be seen whether authorities can effectively manage the monkey population before further incidents occur.
