- Title: Indonesia deploys task force to help village battle its monkey population
- Date: 8th August 2017
- Summary: BOYOLALI, CENTRAL JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA (AUGUST 6, 2017) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE TO SENDANG VILLAGE POLICE AND SOLDIER PUTTING UP BANNER AT VILLAGE CHIEF'S HOUSE POLICE HOLDING UP BANNER WITH PHOTOGRAPH OF A MONKEY ON IT POLICE AND SOLDIER HOLDING UP BANNER READING (Bahasa Indonesia): "POST FOR HANDLING CONFLICT WITH LONG-TAILED MONKEYS" OFFICIALS GATHERED, LOOKING AT AIR RIFLE NON-UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICER CLEANING THE AIR RIFLE LOOKING AT AIR RIFLE AIR RIFLE BEING CLEANED OFFICER CHECKING AIR RIFLE VARIOUS OF OFFICER AIMING AIR RIFLE, LOOKING THROUGH SCOPE HEAD OF SENDANG VILLAGE, SUKIMIN, TALKING TO POLICE OFFICER (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) HEAD OF SENDANG VILLAGE, SUKIMIN, SAYING: "The monkeys are still causing trauma to people in the village and economic disturbance because, for example, when people want to get cassava or go to their land, of course they are very afraid of being attacked. We don't know how we will handle the problem, we have already reported the matter to the deputy chief of Boyolali police, to the regent of Boyolali, and we have even reported it to the provincial BKSDA (Natural Resources and Conservation Center) at Semarang." SIGN READING (Bahasa Indonesia): "HEAD OF SENDANG VILLAGE, KARANGGEDE DISTRICT, BOYOLALI REGENT" (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) HEAD OF SENDANG VILLAGE, SUKIMIN, SAYING: "So far, the BKSDA has ordered us to catch them and put them all in a sanctuary (outside the village), but (that is not enough as) we are already overwhelmed with victims."
- 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: LVA0016TAPV7P
- 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
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