Nearly 100 Monkeys Escape Lopburi Zoo Enclosure
Nearly 100 monkeys escaped a municipal animal facility in Lopburi on June 30, spreading into residential areas before authorities launched a recapture operation using tranquilizer darts and baited cages.
LOPBURI — Nearly 100 monkeys escaped from a municipal animal enclosure in Lopburi overnight, triggering a large-scale effort by officials to recapture the animals after they spread into nearby residential areas.
The escape was discovered on the morning of 30 June 2026 at the Lopburi Municipality Animal Nursery in Pho Kao Ton subdistrict, Mueang Lopburi district. The monkeys had been placed under municipal care by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).
Authorities said the monkeys broke through part of the enclosure and got out. Staff prevented more than 1,000 other monkeys housed in the same facility from escaping.
Following the discovery, Lopburi Mayor Chamroen Salacheep directed municipal officers and relevant agencies to launch an urgent operation to recapture the escaped monkeys before they could cause further disruption to the community. Lopburi Governor Weeraphong Ritrod, along with deputy governors, district officials, municipal authorities, DNP personnel, provincial livestock officials and other agencies, coordinated at the site.
Officials gradually recaptured some monkeys while another team repaired and reinforced the damaged enclosure. Some dominant monkeys required tranquiliser darts to capture, while food-baited cages were set around the area to lure others back.
The governor said the damaged enclosure has been repaired and strengthened to prevent future escapes. As a long-term solution, authorities plan to build a more secure double-layer enclosure to contain dominant monkeys. The province is also preparing to establish a foundation to support food costs and improve monkey welfare.
The mayor said some monkeys had voluntarily returned to the enclosure, though others remained nearby. He suggested the escape may have been caused by hunger, heat, overcrowding or the animals' desire to roam freely. He apologised to residents and said officials would survey any damage, urging affected residents to report it for assistance.
