Monkeys in Thailand have been making international headlines because of their dental regime. Female monkeys in the town of Lopburi, 150km north of Bangkok, have been filmed flossing their teeth with human hair. Researchers are suggesting that the adult monkeys are actively teaching their young how to clean their teeth.
Lopburi is famous for its monkey population, with hundreds of macaques occupying some of the ancient temples in town and running around on the streets dodging traffic. Some Thai people refer to Lopburi as ‘monkey town’ and every November the primates are treated to a sit-down dinner at one of the temples to acknowledge the tourist revenue they bring in. The dinner is complete with starter, main course and dessert as well as menus, napkins and waiter service.
The monkeys are either a delight or are a nuisance depending on your point of view. For those that want to witness Lopburi’s famous inhabitants, the easiest way to get there is by train from Bangkok’s Hualamphong station. Trains depart regularly with journey time between 2 to 3 hours. Although the monkeys appear tame, remember they can bite and scratch. If you have a backpack, don’t be surprised if they jump on it and try to open it. Signs in English and Thai will also warn you about monkeys attempting to grab just about anything that looks of interest including handbags, cameras, food and water. If you stay overnight, many hotels and guest houses have been forced to put bars on windows to stop monkeys from getting in.
