Indonesia: Monkey triggers alert after infecting 18 people and causing school closures in dozens of schools

A two-week chase in the city of Tembilahan on the Indonesian island of Sumatra has ended after a specialized team managed to capture a monkey whose repeated attacks had sparked concern among residents and disrupted schooling in dozens of schools.

Authorities recorded 19 attack incidents attributed to a long-tailed macaque, resulting in injuries to 18 people, including children and the elderly, with some victims requiring medical care.

The specialized team successfully captured the monkey using a trap within the city, before transporting it to Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau province, for examinations, behavioral monitoring, and checks to determine whether it might be carrying diseases.

Despite the capture, authorities urged residents to remain vigilant due to the possibility of other monkeys in the area. As of Friday, 40 schools remained closed, with temporary remote learning implemented.

Experts suggest that the proximity of some monkeys to human settlements may be linked to their search for easier food sources.