Goemkapronn desk
CANACONA: In an unprecedented attack, a lone monkey has attacked over 15 people in 2 months with bites and nail cuts, even as consistent efforts by locals and forest department teams have failed so far to nab the primitive creating a safety-ruckus in Mastimoll, a municipal area in Canacona municipality.
While a forest staffer is also attacked by the said monkey during one of the many rescue operations launched in recent days, the large-sized male monkey has proved to be extra smart to the Forest Rescuers as attempts by them to tranquillize it met with retaliation by physically removing the tranquillizer shot which pierced at its head as swiftly as it struck.
The monkey chased by the forest team in the deep woods, was successfully shot with the tranquilizer by the Forest Department rescuer.
The tranquillizer injection pierced its head, however, in a brilliant move, the monkey with one hand pulled out the injection and threw it down to the ground.
The monkey briefly turned unconscious and fell to the ground, but by the time, the forest team equipped with a net and cage could approach it through the thick forests, the monkey regained its consciousness and went away.
Ward councillor Dhiraj Naikgaonkar, states, the first attack by this monkey was reported on 26th January, thereafter it escalated in February and March, and by the time the Forest Department (wildlife) rescue team took a massive hunt to nab this menacing monkey, it had already attacked locals, women, migrant labourer’s living in Mastimoll numbering to over 20. ‘while many of the victims took private treatments, only the people who approached Community Health Centre with bites and nail-cuts are numbered at 15.
While the forest rescue team along with local youths already on its hot trail, the monkey virtually went on a rampage preying on men and women in the last few days, even as peace prevails with no monkey attacks reported in the locality from last Friday.
Forest team, however, continue to keep a close watch and surveillance in the locality.
At least 5 people are attacked with bites on their heads, at least two people on their shoulders and neck, and another in his belly, needing between 3 to 12 stitches for their wounds.
Mastimoll Ward councillor Dhiraj Naikgaunkar states “the particular monkey a large-sized one perhaps a Male has gone berserk and is on an attacking spree that over two dozen people are at the receiving end of this monkey menace.”
“It bites badly or it gives Nail-Cuts with its dangerous nailed-claws attacking any passersby either walking or on a motorbike on this of the road towards ITI and between ITI to JNV gate. However, in most instances, the monkey strays amongst residential areas and suddenly pounces on them,” he said.
One local resident informed that while he was opening the door of his toilet (located backside of his house), a monkey from nowhere jumped on his back and by the time he pushed the monkey away, he suffered some monkey nail-cuts on the backside of his shoulders.
After some time, as he started to feel uneasy he was taken to the hospital where doctors treated him with injections and some medicines.
Another resident informed that its been one and a half months that this monkey is terrorizing people in this locality, and people are really unaware as to what is the reason behind this.
Another resident informed, me that he was on his way to a neighbour’s house to pass a message, and someone from his backside shouted that a monkey was coming back of him, “by the time I was coming out of the gate, the monkey jumped on him, and bite his head. He got 4 stitches to his head.”
