For most people, monkeys are adorable little primates who wouldn’t hurt a fly. For anyone who has worked with monkeys, or been exposed to them in the wild, they are dangerous and terrifying little monsters capable of killing people.
They may be small, but monkeys have caused a lot of deaths over the years, and in places like India, they take people’s lives all the time. Monkey attacks are no joke, and these ten examples are some of these furry little primates’ worst.
A Man Was Stoned To Death By Monkeys In India
In October 2018, Dharampal Singh was collecting dry wood in Tikri, Uttar Pradesh, India, when a group of monkeys started pelting him with bricks. The monkeys, perched in trees above, gathered the bricks from nearby dilapidated buildings. Mr. Singh was struck in the legs, chest, and head. His brother reported that the monkeys threw more than 20 bricks. Due to the height from which the bricks were thrown, the 72-year-old man didn’t stand a chance.
The attacking monkeys killed Mr. Singh, leading his family to file a complaint with the police. However, the police didn’t take the complaint seriously, stating, “How can we register the case against monkeys? This will make us a laughing stock.” Monkeys in the village are known for their aggression, and multiple complaints have been filed, but bringing them to justice is nearly impossible, so the monkeys continue to terrorize the locals.
Monkeys Chased A Woman Off A Roof In India
In January 2020, 45-year-old Jayanti Swain was hanging clothes to dry on her roof when a monkey appeared, frightening her. Ms. Swain panicked and ran, leading her to fall off the roof to her death. Her family found her on the ground after hearing her screams. She was declared dead at the hospital.
The incident occurred in the Jajpur district of Odisha, where monkey violence is common. Villagers have reported numerous attacks and annoyances caused by the local monkey population, which has destroyed crops and attacked people. While most attacks don’t result in fatalities, they do occur elsewhere in India, where police use slingshots to deter monkey packs and sterilization programs are used to control the growing monkey population.
A Pet Monkey Mauled And Killed Its Owner In Malaysia
In Malaysia, monkeys are sometimes used to retrieve coconuts. Ngah Muhammad attempted to train his pet monkey to fetch coconuts, but the monkey attacked him instead, biting him in several places, including the wrist.
The wrist bite proved fatal, severing a major artery and causing the 72-year-old man to bleed to death. His son found him unconscious. When the son approached, the monkey attacked him as well, biting him on the neck. Neighbors scared the monkey off, and the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks captured and likely euthanized it due to its aggressive behavior.
A Monkey Went On A Nine-Day Rampage, Killing One And Injuring Nine In India
In May 2019, a monkey went on a nine-day rampage in a central Indian village, killing one man and injuring nine others. The monkey bit anyone it encountered. The first victim was a 15-year-old boy, followed by 60-year-old Nathuram, who died from his injuries.
The attacks sparked local protests, as monkey attacks are common in central India. Residents blockaded a motorway with Nathuram’s body, causing a major traffic jam. They protested the lack of anti-rabies vaccinations at local hospitals. Police promised to address their concerns and located the monkey within three hours of the last attack.
Monkeys Killed The Deputy Mayor Of New Dehli, India
Unlike most attacks in small villages, this incident involved Surinder Singh Bajwa, the Deputy Mayor of New Dehli. He was attacked at his home by a group of monkeys while reading a newspaper on his balcony. A neighbor reported that Bajwa attempted to shoo the monkeys away and fell off the terrace in the process.
Bajwa was rushed to the hospital with a head injury but died in October 2007. Government buildings in New Dehli are often overrun with Rhesus macaques. Authorities have used larger monkeys called langurs to chase them away, but the problem continues.
A Child Was Snatched And Killed By A Monkey In India
In November 2018, a 12-day-old baby named Arush was the victim of a monkey attack. A pack of wild monkeys ambushed the family home on the outskirts of Agra, India, grabbing the baby from his mother’s arms while she was breastfeeding him. The monkey grabbed the child by the neck and ran away.
The child’s father, Yogesh, reported that the front door was open when a monkey ran into the house and snatched the baby. The parents found their infant on a neighbor’s roof. The child was bleeding and unresponsive and was declared dead at the hospital. The same monkey had attacked a sleeping 14-year-old girl 15 minutes prior to attacking Arush.
A Woman Was Bitten To Death In India
Five days after baby Arush was killed, 58-year-old Bhoomi Devi suffered a similar fate in Agra. Bhoomi was attacked by monkeys while relieving herself outside her home. She was found covered in blood from multiple bites and died due to blood loss.
Her death, so soon after the infant’s, led to marches and meetings where locals demanded that monkeys be removed from the list of protected species under the Wildlife Act of 1972. With approximately 25,000 wild monkeys in the city, attacks have become frequent, causing women and children to fear moving around freely. Relocation and sterilization efforts were launched to address the problem.
An Alcoholic Monkey Went On A Rampage In India
Kalua, a monkey raised by an “occultist” in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, India, was raised on alcohol. The monkey was fed hard liquor and monkey meat, leading to a crazed alcoholic state. After his owner died, Kalua suffered severe withdrawal, leading to hyper-aggression. The monkey attacked 250 people on the streets.
Kalua preferred to attack the faces of women and children and fled into the forests. Authorities eventually trapped him and took him to the Kanpur Zoological Park. Rehabilitation efforts failed, as he only ate meat and refused fruits and vegetables. Kalua was placed in solitary confinement for the rest of his life.
A Senior Chinese Businessman Was Killed By A Monkey In China
In April 2016, Weng Mai, the former chairman of Guan Sheng Yuan Co. Ltd., was visiting the nature park on Yuntai Mountain in Henan, China when a monkey either threw or pushed a rock over a ledge, causing it to fall on Weng’s head. He was rushed to the hospital but died from the severe head trauma.
The incident raised awareness of the dangers monkeys pose to park visitors. Despite assurances that the death was accidental, an investigation followed. The area is known for falling rocks. In 2015, seven tourists were killed by a falling boulder at Caidie Mountain, though it wasn’t monkey-related.
A Monkey Killed A King In Greece
In 1920, King Alexander of Greece was attacked by a monkey. On October 2, 1919, King Alexander was walking with his dog in his private park at the Tatoi Estate outside Athens when a monkey attacked his dog. As the King tried to separate the animals, another monkey bit him on his leg and upper body.
The King had his wounds dressed but kept the incident from the public. Both bites became infected, and he died 23 days later. His death led to his father’s resumption of royal duties, leading to numerous unforeseen consequences, including losing the Greco-Turkish War. Winston Churchill blamed the Barbary macaque, stating, “it was a monkey bite that caused the death of those 250,000 people.”
Monkeys, often seen as cute and harmless, can be dangerous. These incidents show the potential for primates to cause serious harm and even death. From stone attacks to disease, it’s important to respect their space.
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