MONKEYS will share a mangrove forest with tourists under a 60 million baht plan for a new natural attraction near Phuket City.
People already stop to view the monkeys, who live in large numbers in the mangroves alongside the road between Phuket City and Koh Sireh.
But the closeness to mankind has a downside for the monkey troop: between 40 and 50 have been killed in mishaps on the road already this year.
The plan to put walkways through about 200 rai of mangroves in the area is expected to also provide a safer environment for the monkeys, with nets to prevent them accessing the roadway easily.
Surathin Linaudom, president of the Rassada Tessaban, said today that the development would allow people to learn more about the mangroves and enjoy the experience without damaging the environment.
People in the vicinity also have to put up with excessive noise from the monkeys. The plan should restrict the monkeys from moving into built-up areas.
''People like to go to visit the monkeys in the mangrove forest and relax,'' Khun Surathin said. ''We hope to make it work better for the monkeys and the people.''
A timetable has yet to be set for implementing the project.
A bridge links the islands of Phuket and Sireh, with development much slower in coming to Koh Sireh, although Phuket City remains just a few minutes away.
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People already stop to view the monkeys, who live in large numbers in the mangroves alongside the road between Phuket City and Koh Sireh.
But the closeness to mankind has a downside for the monkey troop: between 40 and 50 have been killed in mishaps on the road already this year.
The plan to put walkways through about 200 rai of mangroves in the area is expected to also provide a safer environment for the monkeys, with nets to prevent them accessing the roadway easily.
Surathin Linaudom, president of the Rassada Tessaban, said today that the development would allow people to learn more about the mangroves and enjoy the experience without damaging the environment.
People in the vicinity also have to put up with excessive noise from the monkeys. The plan should restrict the monkeys from moving into built-up areas.
''People like to go to visit the monkeys in the mangrove forest and relax,'' Khun Surathin said. ''We hope to make it work better for the monkeys and the people.''
A timetable has yet to be set for implementing the project.
A bridge links the islands of Phuket and Sireh, with development much slower in coming to Koh Sireh, although Phuket City remains just a few minutes away.
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