帰ってきた山口のサル、女性の足に抱きつき逃走
A monkey previously known for causing trouble in Yamaguchi City is back, sparking renewed concern. This time, it made headlines for an unusual act: hugging a woman's leg before fleeing, leading netizens to joke about 'courtship' and call it a 'new kind of monkey trouble.' However, many are also voicing worries about the need for renewed monkey countermeasures.
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Yamaguchi City Monkey Incidents (Summer 2022)
When many people hear 'Yamaguchi monkey,' they recall the widespread monkey-related injuries that occurred in Yamaguchi City in the summer of 2022. During this period, monkeys frequently appeared in urban areas, leading to over 50 incidents in just about three weeks, including home invasions, biting and scratching residents, and broken windows. Victims ranged from infants to the elderly, causing significant anxiety among local residents. The monkeys at that time displayed bold behaviors uncharacteristic of previous monkey incidents, such as targeting homes for invasion, scavenging for food, and even attacking people during sleep. The city strengthened warnings to citizens, set up traps, conducted expert-led deterrence efforts, and patrolled. Eventually, multiple monkeys were captured, and the damage temporarily subsided, but there were concerns that specific groups might have learned to live in urban areas. This news of the 'returning monkey' revives memories of that disturbance, making residents and netizens vigilant against a recurrence of similar damage.
Wild Animals Accustomed to Humans
When wild animals become 'accustomed to humans' (人慣れ, hitonare), it means they lose their wariness towards humans and no longer fear or avoid their presence. This often occurs due to human feeding activities or improperly managed waste. Monkeys accustomed to humans will approach human activity areas without hesitation, invade homes in search of food, and sometimes even attack humans to steal food. Once an animal becomes accustomed to humans, it learns that humans are not dangerous, making it very difficult to return them to the wild. The behavior of 'hugging a woman's leg and fleeing' in this incident suggests that the monkey has absolutely no fear of humans, or perceives humans as objects for a specific purpose (play, demanding food, or mere curiosity). Such behavior is not just 'cute'; it increases the risk of unforeseen accidents and infectious diseases. Therefore, it is crucial for authorities and local residents to avoid casual feeding and to conduct educational activities and implement measures to maintain an appropriate distance from wild animals. The issue of human-accustomed animals is a significant challenge not only for monkeys but also for coexisting with many other wild animals such as bears, boars, and deer.
Urban Appearance of Wild Animals and Countermeasures
In recent years, cases of wild animals appearing in urban and residential areas have been increasing nationwide. This is a complex issue stemming from habitat loss due to development, changes in feeding grounds due to an increase in abandoned farmland, ecological changes due to global warming, and animals becoming accustomed to humans. Monkeys are no exception; they may descend from mountains in search of food or use urban garbage stations as feeding grounds. Countermeasures against monkeys in urban areas are difficult due to their unique nature. Capture is considered a last resort, with prevention being the primary focus, including scaring them away (using rocket fireworks or acoustic devices), prohibiting feeding, proper waste management, and ensuring homes are securely locked. However, monkeys that have become accustomed to humans often return quickly even after being chased away, or new groups or individuals appear even after capture, leading to a constant cat-and-mouse game. Given Yamaguchi City's history of large-scale monkey damage, swift and continuous measures are needed to prevent a recurrence of damage. Beyond merely chasing away monkeys, long-term environmental management that allows them to survive without entering urban areas is also a crucial element.