MISHIMA, Shizuoka -- A monkey believed to have bitten more than 100 people in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture since August was captured Oct. 10 after being cornered in the home of a resident here.
A Mishima official said there was no doubt that the captured macaque monkey was the one that had been attacking people, as it was snared shortly after three people were attacked nearby and there had been no other sightings or reports of injuries afterwards.
"We're just relieved that we've caught it," the official said.
Municipal government officials said the monkey was spotted on the second-floor balcony of the home of 33-year-old resident Yuki Yoneyama at about 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. His 36-year-old wife opened the window to their children's room, and when the money went inside, Yoneyama shut it from the outside, trapping the animal.
The monkey scampered into a closet, but municipal government workers and police who arrived at the home used a tear-inducing spray to drive it out, and captured it with a net at about 1:30 p.m.
A spate of monkey attacks had occurred in the eastern Shizuoka cities of Mishima, Numazu and Fuji from August 22. On Oct. 10 a 5-year-old girl was bitten, bringing the number of people to have suffered light injuries in the attacks to 117.
The city offered a 200,000 yen reward to anyone who could capture the monkey. On Oct. 11 the city announced that the award would go to Yoneyama.
"We're thankful to everyone who cooperated, providing information and so on," said city official Yukihiro Aoyama.
October 14, 2010
