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23 injured by monkeys in Shizuoka

35 Comments

Authorities said Tuesday that 23 people have been injured since Sunday by monkeys, believed to be Japanese macaques, appeared in residential areas on the outskirts of Mishima in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The monkeys bit and scratched a number of local residents. According to city authorities, there have been a number of eyewitness reports of monkeys raiding homes in search of food throughout the last two months.

On Monday morning, a housewife was bitten on the leg after a monkey opened the screen door and entered her kitchen. On Tuesday, an 80-year-old woman was attacked from behind on the porch of her house and a first-grade school girl was also injured after she was scratched by a monkey that had entered her home.

Residents say the domestic incursions are usually performed by a single, male monkey, but that they have witnessed cases in which two other monkeys stand guard outside.

The local government is cooperating with the police and fire departments to prepare traps and perform searches in an attempt to catch the simian assailants as soon as possible. City authorities are also appealing to residents to firmly lock their windows.

© News reports

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

35 Comments
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"Residents say the domestic incursions are usually performed by a single, male monkey, but that they have witnessed cases in which two other monkeys stand guard outside."

Classic! Still, I hope they can catch the little guys and get them out of there. It would be a shame to have to start culling them.

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Chuck in a few bananas, and this article would be brilliant!

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The problem is that the monkeys knew that there is nothing that the local people can do. They are protected by the government much like the deers.

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I've said many times here, in effect, that this country is "going to the dogs". Guess I was wrong.

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The problem is that the monkeys knew that there is nothing that the local people can do. They are protected by the government much like the deers.

Uh, what? I hunt deer and other animals in Japan freely. They are certainly not protected by the government. In fact, in my prefecture, they just increased the number of deer you can hunt in one day from one to three. You can also hunt monkeys in Japan, though I have no interest in doing that as I only hunt what I want to eat. However, to hunt monkeys, you need permission for each one you want, which can get expensive at approximately 30,000yen for one.

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@mikihouse

The problem is that the monkeys knew that there is nothing that the local people can do. They are protected by the government much like the deer.

Are you serious? How do they know? Check with their lawyers?

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arrange a cull, say 30% of the population, and sell the meat to fund future culls! as is, what is done for the whales. monkey soup anyone?

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These marauding monks are obviously unemployed.

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monkey see, monkey do.

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Monkey business.

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Unruly local residents?

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Sounds to me like the residents need to get some of those plastic pellet guns they sell to kids, er, childish adults here. They pack a nasty sting but don't do any permanent damage unless you hit an eye.

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Be careful everyone!!! The monkey`s are taking over. They are smarter than you actually think. They are now so brave, that they are starting to enter into peoples homes to steal food and if you do something to startle them they will attack with a vicious bite.

I think the only way to control this is to put out a reward for dangerous monkey`s. I would say 5000 yen per monkey should do it.

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Just trap them, then release them many miles away. It worked with the kid that grafittied my fence.

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They may have to bring in the SDF to take care of these monkeys.

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I hate monkeys and would gladly kill every one if I was asked to. I'd be like the Road Warrior, only with monkeys instead of bikers.

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Ganbare, saru-chan!

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They are protected by the government much like the deers.

So monkeys are protected and dolphins not. It could be an idea to exchange the protection for one year and everyone is happy.

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Hope these monkeys did not learn from Akihabara incident.

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It's not true.

I have killed 2 by myself. Golf sticks do the perfect job ;)

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All you need is a slow acting poison hidden in some yummy fruit.. is it unneccessary cruelty until they get their hands on an infant? Or do they wanna wait for the overreaction and complete extermination of all monkeys in Japan.

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These bands of bad monkeys (two that wait outside, one that enters to steal food and attack the resident) are just the tip of the iceberg of a revolution that has already started. The monkey revolution is coming!

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...but that they have witnessed cases in which two other monkeys stand guard outside.

I don't get it. Stand guard against what?

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Residents say the domestic incursions are usually performed by a single, male monkey, but that they have witnessed cases in which two other monkeys stand guard outside.

and signaling each other with iPhones

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"domestic incursions are usually performed by a single, male monkey, but that they have witnessed cases in which two other monkeys stand guard outside." they sound incredibly like humans..

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This is so funny... There were 2 monkeys standing guard out side. hahaahahha.. So hilarious. I think the monkeys are getting smarter than the Japanese people.

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"...deers". OUCH. It's "deer".

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Somewhat simple-minded people!

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Getting injured by a monkey means you're simple-minded now? Better watch my back then.

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Does no-one remember those monkeys that escaped from that research lab about two months back? They're organising their army and soon the revolution will begin!! I'm stocking up on bananas to pay our new overlords their tribute! ;)

Seriously though, many countries have this problem. As usual the lunatic fringe want to go shooting guns in residential areas (flaming morons, who do you think is more likely to get hit, a monkey or a child?).

The solution is actually laughably simple. Just take a paper plate, and paint a monkey face on it with it's teeth bared showing VERY large incisors. Put it on your door or wherever the monkeys are coming from (on your fence post, wherever). The monkeys will see the face and incisors (a sign of a VERY large and aggressive alpha male) and will back off and go somewhere else. If that fails just let off some small fireworks and they'll leave you along for weeks. If that fails then as a FINAL option you call the animal specialists at the local zoo and they'll be glad to get rid of them.

You do NOT shoot monkeys. They learn very quickly and sure you'll kill a few before they figure out the connection between the gun, the human and the monkeys dying... and then the alpha male in the group (the biggest, meanest monkey) will start attacking anyone holding anything gun-shaped, from brooms to kids coming home from kendo practice with their shinai. In short it'll make the problem MUCH worse.

Habitat destruction is the real problem here anyway. Partition off an area for the monkeys, feed them well, and like humans they'll see no reason to leave their habitat, in fact if you install a TV they'll probably spend all day fighting over the remove and sending the smaller monkeys to fetch them bananas.

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remove = remote, sorry, typo

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It is true that these monkeys are a real pest and some of them even carry deadly viruses, so this is not laughable. South Africa has the same problem with baboons and they too are struggling to keep them out of their houses. Shizuoka is unfortunately a huge prefecture and you can see them everywhere.

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The monkeys are definitely savvy.

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