A man sprays alcohol toward long-tailed macaques to keep them from stealing goods near Phra Prang Sam Yot temple, a monkey hotspot. Lopburi, Thailand.
Macaques, believed to bring good fortune, are part of the identity of “Monkey City” – Lopburi, north of Bangkok, Thailand. Tourists flocked to see them, feeding them fruit. By 2020, the monkey population had reached 3,121, but during COVID-19, tourists disappeared. Marauding monkeys became more aggressive, confronting residents, stealing food, and fighting. Residents tried unsuccessfully to deter them with slingshots, and from April 2024 authorities intervened with a sterilisation program to bring the situation back under control.
Are you a photographer and/or passionate about press freedom? Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on our annual contest and to hear about exhibitions near you.
