PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: Wild macaques are being tested for monkeypox during a regular neutering campaign to control the population in this lower central province, an official said yesterday.
Wanchai Singto, director of the Phetchaburi-based Protected Areas Regional Office 3, said the operation started on June 1 with the target to catch about 600 macaques living on Khao Ta Kiap and Khao Hin Lek Fai mountains.
So far, about 200 macaques had been caught and examined. Most of them were found to have already been sterilised, and all tested negative for monkeypox.
Macaques which had not been neutered would be sterilised by veterinarians from the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.
Mr Wanchai was certain all the monkeys in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, were free of monkeypox. He said there was concern they could be infected by contact with tourists.
The neutering operation would continue until the target was met, he said.
Mr Wanchai said the growth of the monkey population in Prachuap Khiri Khan had been slow recently as a consequence of the success of an ongoing sterilisation campaign.
