By Tim Binnall
Authorities in a Japanese city are on the hunt for a wild monkey that has attacked more than a dozen people over the last two weeks. According to a local media report, the menacing macaque's reign of terror began earlier this month in a residential neighborhood in the community of Yamaguchi when the creature managed to make its way into a home and scratched a young child. The following day, the monkey burst into a nursery school and bit a little girl, while another attack occurred at an elementary school a few days later. Several adults have also fallen victim to the marauding monkey with the total number of attacks now believed to be around 20 in total.
Recounting her harrowing encounter with the frightening creature, a woman told a Japanese media outlet that "I was vacuuming when I heard my child crying, so I turned around and saw the monkey had grabbed her by the legs while she was playing on the floor. It looked like it was trying to drag her outside." Fortunately, she was able to stop the creature before it could escape with her tot in tow, but the animal was soon off in search of more victims and attacked multiple people as it fled the residence, biting them on their arms and stomachs. While those unfortunate enough to run afoul of animal have sustained only superficial injuries, many fear that it is only a matter of time before a more serious incident occurs.
To that end, authorities in Yamaguchi went so far as to issue a warning to residents about the monkey and advised people living in the city to keep their windows closed until the creature can be captured. Police have also stepped up patrols throughout the neighborhood and have placed traps in various locations throughout the community with the hopes of snagging the simian before it strikes again. While there is some debate as to whether or not the attacks are the work of one lone monkey or various aggressive macaques, that question is likely a trifling detail to residents left to fear that they could be the creature's next victim.