Wild Monkey Put Down Following Attacks In Western Japan
A wild monkey has been put down in the city of Yamaguchi, western Japan. This comes after dozens of people were injured in a series of attacks.
City subcontractors started hunting for the primates on Sunday. They spotted one on the grounds of a high school on Tuesday. They shot it with a tranquilizer gun and found it sedated about 30 minutes later.
The monkey was a male and estimated to be four years old. It weighed around 7 kilograms and was about 49 centimeters in height. Officials say they decided to put it down because its characteristics matched those of one that had attacked people.
Yamaguchi City officials say 49 individuals were bitten, scratched or otherwise attacked by wild monkeys in the Ogoori district from July 8 to Tuesday. They started hunting for the animals on Sunday.
The officials say attacks are still being reported, so they plan to intensify the hunt. They are calling on residents to keep their doors and windows tightly shut.