On June 21, 2024, a monkey sighted at Bangkok’s Bang Wa BTS Station caused significant disruption, prompting swift action from authorities to ensure the safety of passengers and the animal.
A monkey caused quite a stir at Bangkok’s Bang Wa BTS Station today, leading to considerable disruption as authorities moved quickly to ensure safety. The unexpected visitor was first spotted by a passenger, who captured the primate’s antics on video. This footage, which quickly went viral on social media, showed the small monkey casually strolling along the tracks, sparking immediate concern, particularly as a BTS train approached the scene. Thankfully, there have been no reports of harm to either the monkey or passengers.
Phattarapon Manee-on, a veterinarian from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), spoke to Channel 3 to clarify the origins of the monkey. “Each monkey in Lom Buri has a distinctive identification tattoo, and this one did not,” he explained, dispelling earlier speculation that the animal was from the well-known province of Lom Buri.
The footage that captured the public’s attention was recorded by a female university student at around 8:20 AM. Initial reports mistakenly cited the Blue Line as the location of the incident, but it was later confirmed by the BTS customer service team that the monkey was actually on the Green Line at Bang Wa Station. This correction helped to clear up any confusion about the monkey’s whereabouts.
Authorities are now on high alert, with the DNP ready to act as soon as BTS officials report another sighting of the monkey. The urgency of the situation is driven by the need to ensure the safety of both the public and the animal in the busy station.
Interestingly, Move Forward Party MP Prasit Puttamapadungsak noted on social media that this is not an isolated incident. Another monkey was recently spotted near Lamlukka in Pathum Thani province and remains at large. The MP speculated that the wayward monkey might have escaped from a fire at Chatuchak Weekend Market, though this theory has not been confirmed.
Despite the monkey’s origins remaining uncertain, the primary focus now is on safely capturing the adventurous primate to restore normalcy to the BTS network. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, ready to respond swiftly to ensure both public safety and the well-being of the monkey.
Various officials, including representatives from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and the BTS customer service team, were involved in managing the situation. Their coordinated efforts highlight the importance of quick action in mitigating disruptions and ensuring safety at busy public transit stations.
