On August 2, 2024, Hua Hin Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul, along with Deputy Mayors Ms. Phailin Kongphan and Ms. Bussaba Choksuchart, Deputy Council President Mr. Sunthi Thiamthat, and other municipal council members, visited the coastal community to monitor the efforts to capture macaques that have been causing disturbances. The operation was also joined by the community committee and wildlife rescue officers from the Protected Area Regional Office 3 in Phetchaburi.
The initiative followed complaints from residents in the coastal community about a group of 10-20 macaques descending from Khao Hin Lek Fai to forage in the area, hiding around residential buildings. The monkeys have exhibited aggressive behavior, such as chasing and biting each other, damaging roofs, and destroying property, leading to significant distress for the local population.
In response, the Hua Hin Municipality coordinated with wildlife rescue officers to assess the situation starting from July 25, 2024. The team devised a plan to trap the aggressive leader of the troop using cages, with some monkeys requiring tranquilizers to be captured. So far, 13 aggressive macaques have been successfully captured. It is estimated that 3-5 more monkeys remain in the area. The captured monkeys have been relocated to the Huai Sai Wildlife Breeding Station in Phetchaburi, while non-aggressive monkeys will be driven back up to Khao Hin Lek Fai.
