A wild monkey is terrorizing a small town in southwestern Japan, entering houses to bite and razor residents amid a continuous hunt for the animal, officials said.
About 20 people in the Ogori area of Yamaguchi have been attacked by the monkey since July 8, and most have been slightly injured, according to the city’s administrative office.
The youngest victim is a 10-month-old girl, whose leg was scratched by the monkey after entering through an armored door on the first floor of her home.
FILE – Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, inhabit the area, but it is unclear what species of monkey is involved. (Photo AP / Kiichiro Sato) (AP)
On Tuesday evening, the monkey hit an elementary school, biting a 10-year-old boy in the arm and both hands, public broadcaster NHK reported.
He attacked two more people Tuesday night and Wednesday morning: a woman in her 60s and a woman in her 80s, both out at the time.
In other recent attacks, the monkey bit a man drying clothes outside and a woman holding the balcony screen door open. He also attacked two younger brothers after climbing into his house through a window, NHK reported.
Authorities have not confirmed what type of monkey was responsible for the attacks, but said the area is inhabited by macaques, also known as Japanese snow monkeys. Macaques can be found in parks in various parts of Japan, often collecting food from visitors.
Police are stepping up patrols in the area and urging citizens to keep their windows closed while the hunt continues.
The Ogori area is largely residential, and it is rare for a wild monkey to come out of the woods and harm humans, a city office spokesman said.