Monkey troops evaded wildlife officers as the government cracked down on out-of-control primates in Thailand.

The unruly macaques had been terrorising residents by stealing food and attacking them on the streets of Lopburi province, which has become notorious for its ballooning monkey population.

Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation staff arrived to round up the animals on March 26.

However, they reportedly had difficulties as the simian 'thugs' were familiar with tranquiliser guns and would scale tall buildings and houses whenever they came near.

Nathi Krutthaka, Conservation Bureau Officer No. 1, said: 'We had to hide our faces and conceal the tranquiliser guns so the monkeys wouldn't see them.'

The team managed to capture the troop's leader 'Ai Krao' who was infamous among the local vendors and drivers due to its aggressiveness. Officers put it to sleep with a sedative dart to its bottom before hauling it inside a cage.

Authorities said seven monkeys had been captured, apart from the nine others caught a day earlier.

The captured macaques were set to be relocated to a wildlife centre in Nakhon Nayok province.

Lopburi, some 110 miles north of the capital Bangkok, has become known in recent years for its out-of-control population monkey population, leading some to like it to an apocalyptic hellscape - with monkeys even commandeering empty buildings.

They were seen engaging in a massive gang fight in the depths of the pandemic when there was a shortage of food. Attacks on cars, homes, market stalls and visitors have become increasingly frequent.

Despite the dangers, locals are keen to keep the monkeys in the town as they prove a popular draw for tourists from around the world who feed them sugary treats.

The Thai government is struggling to control its macaque problem but has taken steps to manage the monkey population across the country, including creating sanctuaries, mass sterilisation programs, educating the public on how to handle the animals properly, and relocating them to more suitable habitats.