Sick of stray dogs on the way to work? Fed up with roving mongrels barking at you on your way home? Be thankful for those dogs, because if they weren’t around, they’d be replaced by rats or cats… or pigs… or monkeys.
An interesting report in the Gazette a couple of weeks back suggested that dogs in Thailand are an “ecological phenomenon”. They live and die on the streets, forming their own dog communities and abiding by their own rules.
Dogs are, apparently, the largest scavengers and predators that can coexist with humans in an urban environment. Stray dogs in Thailand eat rats. They chase monkeys and they consume human garbage, according to the report.
While you won’t find many monkeys in Bangkok, in other parts of Thailand there are thriving monkey populations; Lopburi springs to mind. While those monkeys make look cute, they can be nasty little buggers and will attack humans just to get to a bag of potato chips.
I was told a story recently about a man whose son’s testicle was ripped off by a monkey when the boy had dropped a peanut. After I heard that story I vowed never to feed monkeys in Thailand again – let the stray dogs at them.
I haven’t seen many wild pigs wandering round the streets of Phuket, but I have come across a few cats. I can imagine nothing duller than a world plagued by armies of stray cats.
In the article, the author asserts that if the dog population were to diminish, cats would step up and replace them three to one, although I don’t know where this statement comes as there is no evidence presented.
Stray dogs used to be dealt with in places like Bangkok by poisoning the creatures. The practice is no longer employed “officially”. According to the Soi Dog Foundation, the most effective way to deal with Thailand’s street dogs is to sterilize them and keep the streets clear of garbage.
What’s your take on soi dogs in Thailand? Are they a problem? Would you be surprised to find out that some organizations euthanize dogs on the quiet?
Techno' tags: Thailand, Bangkok, Street dogs
One other reason for so many street dogs is probably because Thai's are kind and merciful feeding these dogs.
Pitt got it spot on.
I wouldn't be surprised if an org would resort to euthanasia. I would be surprised if they are Thais.
Was that "stray gods" on the way to work? I first thought you were talking about the mission men. I often see those types riding around the soi's on bicycles with their white shirt/black tie combo… as for soi dogs, bless them, waiting for a taxi to get to work would not be the same without them around.
I think David Antenborough should do a show on the soi dog mafia, something like that "meerkat manor" documentary. I like the way soi dogs retain some of the real traits of their nature, defend their territory, stick in packs, these packs are normally families and they look alike (maybe inbreeding). Come to think of it, I probably am mixed up after all. Without them I could no doubt enjoy some gai yang without the view of open wounded flesh to accompany my meal, but I would miss the opportunity to see the occasional pack bicycle attack.
I have to agree about the monkey's, just because we drank Typhoo tea as kids we think they are cute. Did you hear the story about the Monkey Mafia in Lopburi? If true, that is worthy of Nat Geo as well. It goes something like this…. somewhere in Lopburi their is a group of monkey's living near a temple. They only leave the temple once a year and always on the same date. The monkey mob head to the railway line and jump on the passing train, it travels about 20 km to near another temple which too has it's own group of monkey's. They get off the train and have a brawl (the way the story was told to me was like Millwall vs Chelsea fans on a Sunday afternoon). Then they go back to the line, wait for the next train home, jump on and look forward to next year.
If you go to Lopburi ask around as I'd really like to know if this happens or is just an urban myth (a Thai friend told me there was a documentary on Thai TV about the The Lopburi Monkey gang).. But, as Matt say's keep on your guard, better still adopt a soi dog as a companion to fend them off and having heard that dreadful peanut/testicle incident whatever you do don't drop your 7 eleven hot dog sausage on the way home.
I was looking on google about the Lopburi attacks I reported earlier.
http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Lopburi/blog-61704.html
They are a feisty bunch.
I followed up and here is the only evidence I found on Google about the Monkey Mafia-
http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Lopburi/blog-61704.html
"savage monkey attack at one of the temples"
"It was like a scene from 'Birds' but with monkeys. Monkies were just all over the streets!!"
"i thought it was going to bite/kill me"
…mind you, have a look at the photo's, and the fact that they "didn't want to pay to go in" and I reckon they we're fair game. I think your from England Matt? I didn't know en-suite existed outside Bogna Regis? or "monkies" She seemed happy enough with the elephant anyway.
Gods, dogs, it's all the same.
It is still a phenomenon to me that Bangkok streets are almost free of dog droppings although there are thousands of stray dogs. Compare that to western countries where you cannot walk ten meters without stepping on a "mine". Where do the Bangkok dogs go to pooh?
Hi,
You were talking about Social study about street dogs, here's a funny one :-)
http://bkkstreetdogs.blogspot.com/
Hope you'll like it..
FKA
my blog is called stray and is located at http://streetgods.blogspot.com.It has been inspired by bkkstreetdogs,please visit.