Posted on 08/29/2013 8:24:58 PM PDT by TexGrill
CHACHOENGSAO - In one village homes are raided, property is pinched and locals are attacked by dastardly gangs operating beyond the law - but the perpetrators are monkeys, not men.
"They creep into my house when they see me sleeping, they go into the kitchen and take cooking oil, sugar and even the medicines that I hide in a cabinet,'' said Chaluay Khamkajit, after years battling with pesky primates who are thought to have been drawn into Khlong Charoen Wai village by habitat loss.
"They took my snacks, I can buy more, but the medicines are important to me,'' the 72-year-old said, as she and her husband demonstrated a variety monkey deterrents, including a homemade lock for the fridge and the more direct deterrent of a sling-shot.
Around 150 households in this shrimp farming community in Chachoengsao's Bang Prakong district have suffered raids by these "sea monkeys'' - long-tailed macaques - for about a decade.
The increasing number of shrimp farms, coupled with the associated deforestation and habitat loss, is believed to be behind the surge in the monkeys' depredations.
"They could find food easily in the past but when there is less forest, they have to find food in people's houses,'' said village headman Chatree Kaencharoen, expressing frustration at some villagers who give food to the incorrigible creatures.
"Sometimes, a few hundred monkeys come at once - especially at dawn and dusk when it is cooler. They know it is time to be fed,'' he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at bangkokpost.com ...
For a moment there, I thought this was an article about the latest news from Congress.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
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