BUTTERWORTH — A monkey was shot dead some 45 hours after it brutally attacked an infant who is now in serious but stable condition.
North Seberang Prai OCPD Asst Comm Noorzainy Mohd Noor said the monkey, believed to be a long-tailed macaque, was killed in a joint operation by the police and the Wildlife and National Parks Department.
The monkey had earlier bitten 50-day-old Muhammad Isyraffie Daniyal Annur Rosmadi, who was sleeping in the living hall of his house in Kampung Manggis, Sungai Puyu here.
“We killed the monkey at 11:30 am today (Monday) after locating it in the vicinity where the attack took place, ” ACP Noorzainy said.
He said the 2:15pm incident on Saturday had left the boy with bite marks on the head, stomach and cheek.
He said a minor operation was performed at the Penang Hospital on Sunday to stitch up torn skin on his stomach as a result of the bites.
“The victim still needs to be hospitalized for about two weeks for further monitoring, ” he added.
ACP Noorzainy said the boy had just woken up and was placed on a mattress in the living room, with all the windows and doors in the house shut.
He said the boy’s mother was preparing milk in the kitchen, while the father was at a nearby sundry shop during the incident.
“The victim’s mother ran to him when she heard his cries.
“The boy was about 1m away from the mattress where he was sleeping, covered in blood.
“The monkey was seen near the baby before it fled, ” he said.
ACP Noorzainy said the boy was then sent to the Seberang Jaya Hospital for treatment, and was transferred to the Penang Hospital the same night for doctors to perform a minor operation on his stomach the next morning.
He added that preliminary checks found that the monkey was often seen alone in the victim’s neighborhood.
“This is the first time the animal had attacked a human, causing serious injury.
“Previously it only made noises (sounds) at children and elderly folk outside their houses.
“The monkey often ransacked pots and pans inside kitchens, believed to be looking for food, ” he added.