Indonesia deploys task force to help village battle its monkey population

Record ID: 905717

  • Title: Indonesia deploys task force to help village battle its monkey population
  • Date: 8th August 2017
  • Summary: BOYOLALI, CENTRAL JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA (AUGUST 7, 2017) (REUTERS) ARMED TASK FORCE MEMBERS WALKING THROUGH JUNGLE WHILE ON PATROL VARIOUS OF TASK FORCE MEMBERS AIMING AIR RIFLES BOYOLALI, CENTRAL JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA (AUGUST 6, 2017) (REUTERS) SOLDIER LOOKING AT MONKEY TRAPPED IN CAGE VARIOUS OF LONG-TAILED MACAQUE MONKEY TRAPPED IN CAGE TASK FORCE LOOKING AT TRAPPED MONKEY
  • Embargoed: 22nd August 2017 09:50
  • Keywords: armed police marauding monkey monkey attack Sendang village monkeys in Indonesia
  • Location: BOYOLALI, CENTRAL JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA
  • City: BOYOLALI, CENTRAL JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Environment,Nature/Wildlife
  • Reuters ID: LVA0036TAPV7P
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
    Indonesia has deployed armed police and soldiers to help villagers on the island of Java fight back against marauding monkeys that have been terrorising their area, stealing food and attacking residents, but local officials say the problem is still out of hand.
    The provincial Natural Resources Conservation Agency in Semarang has ruled against killing the long-tailed macaques, who have been growing increasingly bold in their interactions with humans in the Boyolali district of Central Java, North of the City of Solo.
    The head of Sendang village, Sukimin, said that even with the task force - comprised of local officials, soldiers, police and members of a hunting association - they are fighting a losing battle. In the first six days of August, he said, 13 villagers were attacked and only three monkeys captured.
    Two of the monkeys were caught in traps set up around the area, and one using an air rifle to wound but not kill. Among the 13 victims was 90-year-old Karinah, who suffered a broken leg and cuts to her back when a group of monkeys attacked her outside her kitchen door. Locals say another of the victims was a fourth-grade student.
    Animal protection activists say the destruction of natural forest habitats is pushing macaques into conflict with humans, but killing them is unacceptable. According to the International Animal Rescue Indonesia, the reason the monkeys are raiding people's houses or gardens is because they need food. Their natural habitat, teak or pine forests, have changed into commercial forest.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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