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While those of you reading this are likely enjoying a nice, relaxing Easter Sunday, the townspeople of Lopburi, Thailand are living out a scene straight from Planet of the Apes.
Yes, you read that right.
That’s because Lopburi has been taken over by a roving gang of monkeys that has taken over the city.
Seriously.
Biggest news to come out of Thailand since #สุขุมวิท11: The city of Lopburi is experiencing unprecedented violence between two monkey gangs, authorities have been mobilised to quell chaos and are currently attempting to relocate the primates. pic.twitter.com/NUXKlvcPdT
— yammi (@sighyam) March 29, 2024
Lopburi is traditionally a tourist town. The monkeys are typically a feature of said tourism. But they’ve gotten brave. Perhaps too brave.
British newspaper The Daily Mail reports that police in the city have had to arm themselves with slingshots and tranquilizer guns to fend off violent macaques.
“I am aware of the potential danger from monkeys,” said Police Major General Apirak Wechkanchana. “They have started to pose a threat to tourists and locals. The slingshots now being carried by our officers will help to threaten the monkeys when necessary.”
But as it turns out, the cops aren’t actually hitting the monkeys. The slingshots are mostly an attempt to shoo them away.
These aren’t your ordinary monkeys, however. They are apparently highly intelligent, which has made the problem all that much more troublesome.
Apparently, the monkeys know what the tranquilizer guns look like now and know to run away when they see them.
“We had to hide our faces and conceal the tranquilizer guns so the monkeys wouldn’t see them,” said one Thai policeman.
As it turns out, monkey gangs also have a Don, much like the Italian Mafia.
Thai police recently captured the troop’s leader, ‘Ai Krao’, who was particularly aggressive toward local drivers and vendors. Officers put the monkey to sleep with a sedative dart before locking it away in a cage.
We’ve yet to get a report on when Ai Krao sentencing will be. But as a repeat offender, we can’t imagine his outlook it very positive.
Will police get the monkey gang under control? Whomst can say!?
Maybe they need to consult with police in Yamaguchi, Japan.
But if you were planning a trip to Thailand, maybe take Lopburi off your list of destinations for the time being.