Gang Member Monkey Executed In Japan

A monkey was executed in Japan for being part of an animal “gang” who were repeatedly attacking humans. The macaque monkey was recently located and executed by a group of specially commissioned hunters in Japan. The “monkey gang” has been implicated in more than fifty assaults in the city of Yamaguchi.

The Macaca fuscata, the northernmost species of non-human primates, have been terrorizing the city for almost a month, biting and scratching locals. The BBC stated that the monkey gangs have not only attacked people in the streets but have also developed the ability to unlock sliding doors and climb into windows. In one instance, a monkey barged into a kindergarten class and pounced on a young, four-year-old girl. On a different occasion, a monkey is said to have attempted to take a newborn by scaling a window.

Executed monkey was terrorizing Japanese community

According to The Guardian, the baby’s father told Mainichi Shimbun, a Japanese daily, that she “heard crying coming from the ground floor, so [she] hurried down.” Then, she noticed a monkey stooping over her infant.

To defend themselves from the macaques, some locals have started arming themselves with umbrellas and pruning shears, according to The Guardian. Kids aren’t allowed on the playground since there are still macaques roaming free there, according to the kindergarten where the attack occurred.

A four-year-old male monkey that was recently put to death was connected to at least one city attack. However, it’s not clear if he was the main offender or not. In either case, it’s unlikely that the gang will allow the people of Yamaguchi to leave in peace. According to a study published in April 2021 in the journal Mammal Study, conflict between macaques and people have been intensifying in the region for decades, especially in rural areas where the monkeys gorge on farmers’ crops.

According to a study published in Mammal Study, Japanese macaque populations are constantly growing, and the IUCN Red List identifies the species as one of the least concern. These monkeys, however, previously faced extinction. About half of Japan’s woods, which are home to macaques, were destroyed by deforestation by the end of the 19th century. In addition to habitat degradation, extensive hunting also hurt the species. By World War II, macaques were both locally extinct and vulnerable across much of Japan and their natural habitats.

Harming Macaques Illegal After World War II

Japan outlawed hunting for macaques following World War II. However, efforts to save these monkeys turned out to be a bit too effective, and the Japanese wolf (Canis lupus hodophilax), one of the main predators of macaques, is now extinct. Due to an increase in human interaction and the lack of predators to control their population, macaque populations have now skyrocketed, leading to conflict of the likes observed in Yamaguchi.

According to the authors of the 2021 study, shifting demographics in Japan may be a factor in the rise in violence between macaques and humans. People have been migrating to cities for the past fifty years. According to the study, it’s plausible that animals, much like the wandering gangs of brave macaques, are moving in and taking over these small communities, some of which have been abandoned due to population decline. According to NBC News, this alteration has repercussions for urban areas such as Yamaguchi. These farming areas once served as a barrier between the wild and urban areas. City folks are encountering wildlife more frequently as a result of the decline of rural villages.

Meanwhile, the remaining monkey gang members have continued their antics, according to Insider. The macaques are still causing damage to Yamaguchi about a week later.