Lopburi Seeks Funding to Address Monkey Population Management Crisis

LOPBURI — On February 20, 2026, officials from the House of Representatives and Parliamentary Budget Office visited Lopburi to assess the city's monkey population management efforts. Thakorn Julin, director of the Parliamentary Budget Office, led a delegation to the Lopburi Municipal Animal Nursery, where they met with Mayor Jamroen Salacheep to discuss the growing monkey problem. The mayor highlighted the severe impact of the monkey population, including home invasions, attacks on shoppers, and property damage. Some businesses have already relocated, threatening the local economy and potentially turning Lopburi into a ghost town. Authorities have been working to trap, health check, and sterilize monkeys, placing them in designated enclosures. However, the municipality faces significant budgetary constraints for monkey care and feeding. The Parliamentary Budget Office has committed to exploring funding options to help manage the situation and promote peaceful coexistence between residents and monkeys.