Authorities on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island have captured a monkey that terrorized residents for two weeks, bringing an end to a series of random attacks that left 18 people injured and forced the temporary closure of dozens of schools.
The adult long-tailed macaque targeted residents in the town of Tembilahan, biting and scratching victims who were mostly alone at the time of the attacks.
Children and elderly residents were among those injured during the incidents.
“As of today, there were 19 attacks, with 18 victims. One victim was attacked twice,” Tembilahan fire and rescue service head, Junaidy Ismail, told AFP on Friday.
Several of the victims sustained serious injuries that required more than a dozen stitches, while others received rabies vaccinations as a precaution.
The monkey was successfully trapped late on Thursday after wildlife officials set up a cage in the town. Footage released by the rescue service on Friday showed the animal alive but appearing distressed inside the enclosure.
Despite the capture, local authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant amid concerns that other monkeys could also pose a threat.
“The concern is that there may be other monkeys attacking people,” Ari said in an Instagram post.
The attacks prompted the closure of 40 schools on Friday, with hundreds of students switching to online learning for three days as a safety measure.
According to a statement from the local government, schools are expected to resume normal activities next Monday if officials determine that the area is safe.
The captured macaque has since been moved to Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau Province, where the regional nature conservation agency will conduct blood examinations and behavioural observations.
“We want to establish whether the monkey is carrying any diseases,” agency official Ujang Holisudin told AFP.
Encounters between humans and wildlife are a recurring challenge across Indonesia’s vast archipelago. Experts say the expansion of palm oil plantations and the continued loss of rainforest habitat have increasingly pushed animals such as monkeys, elephants and tigers into closer contact with human communities.
