The reign of terror by wild monkeys that had unsettled residents of Tembilahan, Indragiri Hilir Regency, Riau, for three days has begun to subside after officials successfully captured a long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) suspected of being the main culprit behind the attacks.
The animal was caught using a trap cage and transported to Pekanbaru on the night of Thursday, 6th of August, for observation by the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (Balai Besar Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam or BBKSDA).
Junaidi Ismail, Head of the Indragiri Hilir Regency Fire and Rescue Agency, said the capture was achieved using an iron trap set up at a location where the monkey had been sighted. After some time, the monkey entered the trap and was immediately secured.
“The monkey was successfully caught using an iron trap belonging to the Fire and Rescue Agency. It has now been taken to Pekanbaru for observation by the Riau BBKSDA,” Ismail said on Friday, 7th of August.
He explained that the observation aims to determine the cause of the monkey’s unusually aggressive behaviour. The animal is suspected of having attacked at least 18 residents—including children and the elderly—by biting and scratching them. Some victims required stitches and rabies vaccinations. However, authorities cannot yet confirm whether the captured monkey was the sole perpetrator of the attacks in the area.
“For the time being, the captured monkey is suspected to be the main culprit. We are continuing to maintain a watch and monitor the situation until we are certain the area is truly safe,” he added.
Tembilahan District Head Ari Syuria urged residents to remain vigilant, noting that the monkey was part of a troop.
“Our concern is that there may be other monkeys attacking people,” Syuria said in an Instagram post.
Since the first monkey attack on Tuesday, the 4th of August, 40 schools in Tembilahan have remained closed through Friday, with hundreds of students participating in online learning for three days. Local authorities stated that schools would reopen next Monday if the situation is deemed safe.