The stray cats that roamed free at Bangkok’s popular Lumpini Park — and became one of the park’s highlights over the years — will not be allowed to return to their habitat after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration captured them for a mass neuter and spay on Saturday.
The cats were neutered, spayed and kept at the Don Mueang facility of the Department of Livestock, but to the dismay of some park goers, the cats will not be returned to Lumpini, marking the end of an era, where park-goers often stopped to pet and feed the kitties during their workouts.
“Lumpini Park is not a zoo. The park is not responsible for caring for the cats and other animals. They are meant to be with the Department of Livestock. We will not return the cats to the park,” said Apiwan Niamprasert, Department of Public Park’s director.
Since many fear the cats will be forced to live in a crowded, horrid government facility, admins of Cat Lumpini, a Facebook page of Lumpini Park regulars who took and shared pictures of the cats online, told Coconuts that volunteers rescued approximately 50 cats from Department of Livestock this morning and will act as the center for people who wish to adopt a Lumpini kitty.
“This morning we have retrieved all of the cats from the Don Meuang facility, including the cats rescued in the flood. The condition of the place is horrible,” an admin of Cat Lumpini, who doesn’t wish to be identified, said.
“We agree with neutering the cats and giving them vaccines for rabies, but officials need to prepare a suitable shelter before removing all the cats from the park. They could also have called for adoption in advance,” said the admin.
ABOVE: A Lumpini Park’s famous cat, commonly called “Ma Ter” (translated to “short bang”) by locals, was frequently spotted chilling on the park’s pavement.
The cats are now in the care of the volunteers, and soon they will be up for adoption after they’ve recovered from surgery.
“You can wait for the update from our page. We will take action to find the cats a new home,” said the female admin, who added the page will post photos of the cats for people who want to adopt them in the near future.
You can follow Cat Lumpini for the updates regarding the adoption.
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