wild macaque was shot dead by personnel from the Central Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) in Sendang village, Karanggede district, Boyolali, Central Java, on Friday.
The animal had reportedly wreaked havoc on farms and homes and attacked dozens of residents over the past few weeks.
BKSDA Central Java conservation section head Titi Sudaryanti said killing the animal was a last resort and was justified since the animal threatened people’s lives.
The monkey was shot while it was looting a home. A day earlier, it attacked an elderly woman.
“According to reports from villagers, this particular monkey was aggressive,” Titi said.
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Sendang village head Sukimin said sharpshooters from the Army, police and Indonesian Target Shooting and Hunting Association (Perbakin) were quick to respond once they received information about the arrival of the monkey.
A number villages in Karanggede have been repeatedly attacked over the last two months by bands of monkeys that stole crops and looted houses.
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According to Sukimin, in Sendang alone, at least 15 people have been injured in monkey attacks.
Environmentalists said the monkeys would continue to seek food in residential areas during the dry season when water and food sources in their natural habitat were scarce because of deforestation. (bbs)
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