BUTTERWORTH: A one-year-old toddler had to undergo surgery after being attacked by a monkey here Saturday (Jan 9).
North Seberang Prai OCPD Asst Comm Noorzainy Mohd Noor said Muhammad Isyraffie Daniyal Annur Rosmadi, one, was sleeping alone in the hall of his house when he was bitten multiple times by a monkey at around 2.15pm on Saturday (Jan 9).
"The child sustained serious injuries when he was bitten repeatedly by a monkey at a house in Kampung Manggis, Sungai Puyu, in Butterworth.
"The baby boy had just woken up and was placed on the mattress in the living room, while his mother was in the kitchen preparing milk.
"At the time of the incident, his father was at a nearby sundry shop, while his grandmother was in the kitchen.
"All the doors and windows were shut.
"The victim's mother, who was shocked to hear her son crying in distress, ran to the living room and found her son on the cement floor, about 1m from the mattress, covered in blood.
"The monkey was seen near the baby before escaping the house," he said.
ACP Noorzainy said the victim's mother immediately contacted her husband and informed him about the incident.
"Initial investigations revealed that there were bite marks to the child's head, stomach and cheek.
"He was sent to the Seberang Jaya Hospital for treatment.
"The baby was transferred to Penang Hospital the same night and doctors performed a minor operation on his stomach on Sunday (Jan 10) morning.
"Doctors needed to stitch up the bite marks.
"The operation was to stitch up torn skin as a result of the bites.
"The victim still needs to be hospitalised for about two weeks for further monitoring," he added.
He said preliminary checks found that the black monkey that bit the boy was a male, with a large build and long hair.
"The monkey is often seen wandering alone in the victim's neighbourhood.
"This is the first time the animal had attacked a human, causing serious injuries.
"Previously, the monkey only made noise (sounds) at children and the elderly outside their houses.
"The monkey often ransacked pots and pans inside kitchens, believed to be looking for food.
"We have alerted the Wildlife Department to catch the monkey," he added.
Did you find this article insightful?
88% readers found this article insightful
