Nearly 100 monkeys ran loose through neighborhoods in central Thailand after escaping from a government-run enclosure overnight, prompting authorities to launch a large-scale effort to capture the animals.

Recapture Efforts

Officials said nearly 100 monkeys broke through part of an enclosure at the Lopburi Municipality Animal Nursery. The monkeys were being housed under the care of local authorities after being transferred from Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

Provincial officials, wildlife authorities, and municipal workers searched nearby residential areas Tuesday after the escape. Authorities used food-baited cages to lure some of the escaped monkeys back into custody. Other monkeys, including some of the larger and more dominant macaques, had to be subdued with tranquilizer darts before they could be captured.

Prevention Measures

Crews repaired the damaged enclosure while officials continued efforts to recapture the escaped monkeys. Lopburi Gov. Weeraphong Ritrod said the damaged enclosure had been repaired and reinforced to help prevent additional escapes.

He said officials also plan to build a more secure, double-layer enclosure designed to keep dominant monkeys from breaking out in the future. The governor said the province is also preparing to establish a foundation to help support food costs and improve the monkeys’ welfare.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.