The attacks have been happening since the beginning of this month. “Initially, only children and women were attacked,” says a municipal official against British broadcaster BBC. “But recently the elderly and adult men have also been targeted.” Police do not yet know whether the attacks are the work of one monkey or several monkeys.
Catch failed
The injuries of the victims vary: people have been bitten in their leg, arm, neck and abdomen. Residents say the monkeys enter their homes through sliding doors or open windows. Among the injured are children and the elderly.
The police set traps in an attempt to capture the monkeys, but those efforts have so far failed. The deployment of police patrols in certain neighborhoods does not deter the animals either.
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The monkey suspected of the aggressive attacks is the so-called Japanese macaque. Although these monkeys are common in many parts of the country, these types of incidents are uncommon.
Serious conflicts
The Japanese macaque was initially a vulnerable species, but has recently increased in numbers. That has consequences, according to research from Yamagata University. The monkeys’ recovery “is causing serious conflict between humans and macaques.” Changes in human behavior are seen as one of the possible causes.
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