The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation on Wednesday launched a plan with Lop Buri authorities to control the city’s monkey population.
The 13th-century Phra Prang Sam Yot temple is home to a large macaque population that raids local communities and pesters visitors.
The department said the macaques were trouble-makers and the new plan was aimed at protecting people.
The monkeys would be sterilised, moved to a macaque facility in tambon Pho Kao Ton and released into natural habitats.
"The macaque population is soaring while the area available to them is shrinking due to property development and agricultural expansion. Natural food and water sources are also falling due to the hot weather.
"As a result, conflict between humans and macaques is intensifying," the department’s director-general said.
Last year there were 5,709 macaques counted in Lop Buri, including 2,206 in the municipality, he said.
