Royal pet found safe at temple

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Royal pet found safe at temple

Published on Sep 13, 2002

 

A monkey named " Khun Sakda " by HM the King has been found at a temple in

Prachuap Khiri Khan after it disappeared from Klai Kangwon Palace.

 

" Khun Sakda is fine, " Major Samer Yoosamrarn, an inspector at Hua Hin Police

Station, said yesterday.

 

Khun Sakda was found at Khao Takiab Temple where there was an abundance of

food from tourists, Samer said .

 

Local administrative officers and police started searching for Khun Sakda

after HM the King noticed he had disappeared and said he was worried that

the monkey might be sick.

 

HM the King often played games with Khun Sakda at the palace.

 

Montha Premprasert, who has been a nun at Khao Takiab Temple for more than

10 years, is in charge of giving food to about 500 monkeys in the area.

 

She said the monkeys forage for food elsewhere if there is not enough.

 

" Tourists often come with fruit and food so when they are here the monkeys

have enough to eat, " she said.

 

Khun Sakda is known at the temple as " Soraphong " after the famous actor

Soraphong Chatree, because he is such a good-looking monkey, she said.

 

Khun Sakda was the leader of a group of bout 100 monkeys on the lower part

of Takiab Mountain.

 

He is thought to be around 12 or 13 years of age.

 

About two years ago, Khun Sakda started appearing on the grounds of Klai

Kangwon Palace and became a common sight there.

 

He was always welcome at the palace because he never damaged property.

 

Somboon Chaemchuen, an officer at Anantara Resort and Spa in Hua Hin, said

he used to see a troupe of about 10 monkeys at the hotel but chased them

away because they scared hotel guests.

 

" The last time I saw the monkeys was about four or five months ago, " he

said.

 

Ta-hwan Thaolipo, 46, who lives in a seaside house, also said he often used

to see monkeys roaming for food on the beach and around nearby houses.

 

" I don't see them in large groups anymore. The last time I saw them there

were only two, " he said.

 

Apichart Hongsakul

 

THE NATION