Wild monkeys terrorising a Thai town were hauled into a giant prison cage as local officials launched an operation to curb the animals' growing population.

Footage shows dozens of the primate raiders eating inside a massive enclosure where they are being held in Lopburi province.

Staff said the animals were 'cohabiting peacefully' in an enclosure, and were provided enough food so they don't have to compete for resources.

Wildlife officials have installed cages with fruits as bait on the streets, hoping to lure the hungry animals inside before relocating them.

Authorities said that 73 macaques have been caught as of May 24. The operation is scheduled to run until the end of the month.

Lopburi has become a popular tourist destination because of its large population of monkeys. The monkeys are mostly long-tailed macaques, and they can be found all over the city, from the temples to the streets.

However, they can also be aggressive, and they have been known to steal food and belongings. They were even seen on CCTV last month attacking a motorcycle rider to steal his lunch.