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Durian Gardeners Face Squirrel Attack Ahead of Premium Harvest

Durian Gardeners Face Squirrel Attack Ahead of Premium Harvest

Khaosod•Society•7d ago

Reader Briefing

Squirrels are damaging premium durian crops in Chanthaburi, causing significant financial loss to farmers just weeks before the planned harvest.

  • •Durian growers in Chanthaburi are experiencing significant crop damage due to squirrel infestations.
  • •The squirrels are reportedly 'drilling holes' into unripe durians, ruining their quality.
  • •The affected durians are premium 'Monthong' variety, intended for export, with harvest due in 10 days.
  • •Farmers are facing financial losses estimated in the tens of thousands of baht.

Overview

  • •On May 7, 2026, reporters visited a durian orchard in Mue 8, Ang Khiri Subdistrict, Makham District, Chanthaburi Province.
  • •A swarm of wild squirrels began attacking and damaging Monthong durians, causing severe quality loss.
  • •Squirrels were observed to 'drill holes' into durians to check ripeness before consuming the segments.
  • •The damage by squirrels has rendered an entire tree's premium export-grade durians unsellable, with one tree losing over 10 fruits totaling more than 70 kilograms.
  • •Nang Thongkam Singkhon, a 69-year-old durian farm owner, stated that the financial loss, estimated in the tens of thousands of baht, is substantial for an elderly farmer.
  • •The durian plantation, belonging to Nang Thongkam Singkhon, has been cultivated for over 7 years.
  • •The durian trees were bearing abundant, high-quality fruits, nearly all of premium grade for export, in the current year.
  • •Farmers had previously taken measures to protect the durians from strong winds during past storms.

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Key Quotes

Nang Thongkam Singkhon
"“Drill holes” to check the flesh before tasting the ripe durian segments, immediately causing the durian to lose quality."
“เจาะรู” เพื่อเช็กเนื้อ ก่อนไปชิมพูทุเรียนที่กำลังแก่จัด ทำให้ทุเรียนเสียคุณภาพทันที
Nang Thongkam Singkhon
"We protected the durians from the past storms, doing everything to ensure they survived the strong winds, but now squirrels have come in and destroyed them, costing tens of thousands of baht."
พายุที่ผ่านมาเราป้องกันได้ ทำทุกทางให้ทุเรียนรอดพ้นจากลมแรงมาแล้วแท้ ๆ แต่กลับมาโดนกระรอกย่องมาทำลายจนเสียเงินหลักหมื่นไป

Key Entities

Place

Chanthaburi(จันท์)ℹ️
The province in Thailand where the durian farm is located and facing crop damage.
Village 8, Ang Khiri Subdistrict, Makham District, Chanthaburi Province(หมู่ 8 ต.อ่างคีรี อ.มะขาม จ.จันทบุรี)
The specific rural location of the durian farm experiencing squirrel damage.

Person

Nang Thongkam Singkhon(นางทองคำ สิงขรณ์)
The 69-year-old owner of the Chanthaburi durian farm whose premium Monthong crop was damaged by squirrels.