On 6/1, Tran Ngoc Thong, head of the Quan Hoa Forest Protection Department, stated that forest rangers are coordinating with local authorities to drive away a pig-tailed macaque appearing in Kham 1 village, Hoi Xuan commune.
The animal, identified as a male, was first seen early on 4/1. Descending from the forest into the village, it sneaked into Pham Ba Dien's garden, where it picked fruit, killed one chicken, and ate about 10 incubating eggs.
The monkey continued its aggressive behavior on the morning of 5/1, attacking Pham Thi Chien, 68, wife of Hoang Dinh Giang. The victim sustained injuries to her two arms, requiring hospitalization and 15 stitches. According to authorities, her injuries are not critical, and her health is currently stable.
After residents drove it away, the animal retreated to the forest but returned near the village on the morning of 6/1. Local authorities mobilized militia and residents, using gongs and drums to deter it, but the monkey proved quite stubborn.
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The monkey appeared on a residential fence in Hoi Xuan. Photo: Lam Son |
Tran Ngoc Thong believes the monkey may have descended into the residential area in search of food due to scarcity in the forest. It is currently unknown whether the animal lives alone or with a troop, or its specific area of origin.
According to the Quan Hoa Forest Protection Department, this is the first recorded appearance of a pig-tailed macaque in Hoi Xuan commune in many years. The area borders the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, but the terrain is primarily earth mountains, whereas primates typically inhabit limestone mountain regions.
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The monkey's attack injured Ms. Chien, requiring 15 stitches. Photo: Lam Son |
Authorities are currently continuing efforts to drive the monkey back into the forest. Should the animal remain aggressive and continue attacking residents, forest rangers will consider options such as trapping or tranquilizing it for relocation to the core zone of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
The pig-tailed macaque, scientifically known as *Macaca leonina*, belongs to the primate order and is one of the larger species within the monkey family. This species is listed under Appendix IIB of the CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Le Hoang
