BBC Filming in Hua Hin - Macaques

[REEM]

These urban monkeys are certainly becoming a nuisance. Recently we came across a troop of them and they became very aggressive, they started screeching and baring their teeth and one of them leapt up and attacked my wife, luckily she sidestepped quickly, raised her arm, and narrowly avoided being scratched in the face. We had done nothing threatening, we were just walking, and they were sitting normally at the side of the path, as we got alongside them their mood quickly changed.

We beat a hasty retreat down the path and they followed us, screeching and snarling. We thought that they must have been protecting their young, but there were no young anywhere to be seen.

This was in Phetchburi, about an hour north of Hua Hin, but I personally know two or three people who have been jumped on and scratched by the monkeys at Khao Takiap.

[AbiBrown]

Kaeng Krachan monkeys in the lake:

Thank you for the information and for sending the video - really useful!

[Geko]

If you come to film you might like to visit:

Royal Hua Hin Golf Course
(Thailand's 1st course, classic 1924 design)

Royal Hua Hin is the oldest 18-hole international standard course in Thailand and is only 5 minutes from downtown Hua Hin. The course was commissioned in 1924 to accommodate the interests of the British railway workers and Thai aristocracy living in the area. Royal Hua Hin sits right next to the town's railway station. The course's designer was a Scottish railroad engineer. The 15th hole has a group of about 50+ monkeys which quite often make this hole unplayable as they congragate on the fairway and green.

[Sabai Jai]

I have seen the monkeys (Crab-eating Macqaque?) playing in the sea on a number of occasions. the footage in the youtube clip is quite spectacular, I have usually seen the youngsters splashing around ducking each other, and jumping from rock to rock at low tide. The adults pulling shellfish off the rocks. They also like to play on fishing boats but they are rarely moored at this beach location now.

You could however visit this location many times and not see them playing in the sea, they are always around on the hilltop and as previously mentioned the size of the population has been a problem in the last few years and is being controlled. There is currently a lot of construction in this area which is adversely affecting the environment.

Kind regards
Sabai Jai

Thank you so much for your response. Yes, you're correct, they're crab-eating macaques. Can I ask how often you see them playing in the sea at this rocky area? When was the last time you saw them swimming in the sea there? From what you say, it doesn't sound like it's something you could witness every day? Thank you!

I took a few (rather poor) photos with a mobile phone last time I saw them which was 05 March 2016. I tried to upload them but they are on an old phone and oversize for this forum. I have only been there a couple of times this year but saw no monkeys in the sea, I think it is probably less frequent these days.

[AbiBrown]

Welcome to the forum and Hua Hin. Sadly the numbers of these animals in the locale is now making them a pest. It might be worth your while looking at how the authorities here are trying to deal with the problem.

Also, a little further south is 'monkey island', off of Sam Roi Yod beach, also known as Dolphin Bay. It's a good few years since I last visited the island, but the monkeys were much more timid and had to be coaxed down to the islands beach by fruit, but it was fascinating to see them leaping and swimming out to low lying rocks, where they would attack barnacles and the like with stones to get to the meat.

Thank you so much for your response. The 'Monkey Island' you refer to - is that Kho Ram Island or Nom Sao Island?

It's Kho Ram Island and the monkeys aren't timid any more. I guess that since more and more people have been going out there, they have become accustomed to human contact (and to being fed). I went out there about two years ago and they were all over the boat we were on, as soon as it approached the beach.

Thank you for the help!

[AbiBrown]

I have seen the monkeys (Crab-eating Macqaque?) playing in the sea on a number of occasions. the footage in the youtube clip is quite spectacular, I have usually seen the youngsters splashing around ducking each other, and jumping from rock to rock at low tide. The adults pulling shellfish off the rocks. They also like to play on fishing boats but they are rarely moored at this beach location now.

You could however visit this location many times and not see them playing in the sea, they are always around on the hilltop and as previously mentioned the size of the population has been a problem in the last few years and is being controlled. There is currently a lot of construction in this area which is adversely affecting the environment.

Kind regards
Sabai Jai

Thank you so much for your response. Yes, you're correct, they're crab-eating macaques. Can I ask how often you see them playing in the sea at this rocky area? When was the last time you saw them swimming in the sea there? From what you say, it doesn't sound like it's something you could witness every day? Thank you!

I took a few (rather poor) photos with a mobile phone last time I saw them which was 05 March 2016. I tried to upload them but they are on an old phone and oversize for this forum. I have only been there a couple of times this year but saw no monkeys in the sea, I think it is probably less frequent these days.

Thanks for the help. It would still be great to see your photos - any chance you can use www.wetransfer.com to send them to my email (abi.brown@bbc.co.uk)? If you haven't used it before, it's a free and easy way to send larger files online!

[AbiBrown]

If you come to film you might like to visit:

Royal Hua Hin Golf Course
(Thailand's 1st course, classic 1924 design)

Royal Hua Hin is the oldest 18-hole international standard course in Thailand and is only 5 minutes from downtown Hua Hin. The course was commissioned in 1924 to accommodate the interests of the British railway workers and Thai aristocracy living in the area. Royal Hua Hin sits right next to the town's railway station. The course's designer was a Scottish railroad engineer. The 15th hole has a group of about 50+ monkeys which quite often make this hole unplayable as they congragate on the fairway and green.

Thank you for your response - I will definitely keep that in mind!

[AbiBrown]

These urban monkeys are certainly becoming a nuisance. Recently we came across a troop of them and they became very aggressive, they started screeching and baring their teeth and one of them leapt up and attacked my wife, luckily she sidestepped quickly, raised her arm, and narrowly avoided being scratched in the face. We had done nothing threatening, we were just walking, and they were sitting normally at the side of the path, as we got alongside them their mood quickly changed.

We beat a hasty retreat down the path and they followed us, screeching and snarling. We thought that they must have been protecting their young, but there were no young anywhere to be seen.

This was in Phetchburi, about an hour north of Hua Hin, but I personally know two or three people who have been jumped on and scratched by the monkeys at Khao Takiap.

They can be so aggressive, you are right. We will have to be careful if we come to film!

[AbiBrown]

It would also be great to get your guys input on the weather as I don't trust online weather websites anymore. Which months are hottest? And when does the monsoon season start?

Thank you!

[Big Boy]

March and April are the hottest.

Rain is normally at its worse between July and November.

[Thistle]

Went to the view point at the restaurant i mentioned previously this morning at approx 11.00am,very hot.No monkey whatsoever down in the water or on the rocks.
However,100's on the road up to the temple,down to the restaurant,and up near the temple area.
I noticed several large dogs within the area of the new buildings,and the temple stairs,few monkeys,perhaps a deterrent,or the catapults you see locals walking around with near the souvenir shops,
Went then to the beach area at the golden Buddha,and a large troop sitting on 3 fishing boats,the rocks and generally roaming on the sand.A local throwing rice onto the rocks and into the water from one of the small cafes at the steps of the statue.I have taken some photo i will try and send to your email,but basically they were old and young solely looking for food,and were tempted into the water based upon that.

[buksida]

They are aggressive, here is testament to what happens when man tries to intervene ...

Boy, 7, receives 15 stitches after monkey attack at Prachuap Khiri Khan fair
A seven-year-old boy was severely injured when he was bitten by one of three pig-tailed macaques that were being used to prevent long-tailed macaques from looting shops at the fair in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Muang district.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... s/30365472

[AbiBrown]

Thank you so much for your response. Yes, you're correct, they're crab-eating macaques. Can I ask how often you see them playing in the sea at this rocky area? When was the last time you saw them swimming in the sea there? From what you say, it doesn't sound like it's something you could witness every day? Thank you!

I took a few (rather poor) photos with a mobile phone last time I saw them which was 05 March 2016. I tried to upload them but they are on an old phone and oversize for this forum. I have only been there a couple of times this year but saw no monkeys in the sea, I think it is probably less frequent these days.

Thanks for the help. It would still be great to see your photos - any chance you can use www.wetransfer.com to send them to my email (abi.brown@bbc.co.uk)? If you haven't used it before, it's a free and easy way to send larger files online!

Hi,

I received 4 photos to my email via wetransfer.com (20160102_132406.jpg, 20160305_122240.jpg, 20160305_122227.jpg
20160305_122249.jpg)- were these from you? Just making sure I am not mixing you up with someone else who said they would send me photos!

[AbiBrown]

March and April are the hottest.

Rain is normally at its worse between July and November.

Great, thank you!

[AbiBrown]

Thank you!