The victim's leg bandaged after the macaque attack in Pulau Sakar.
IT IS said that a man's home is his castle, and by extension, that domain should include the verandah of the house.
Unfortunately, no one told that to the macaques on Pulau Sakar in Sabah's Lahad Datu district.
It was reported that a local man was jolted awake by searing pain recently when a wild macaque bit his leg while he was napping on the verandah.
It was said that the macaque did not let up and kept charging at him despite his efforts to get away.
Did this happen?
VERDICT:
TRUE
The incident occurred on Tuesday (June 10), and Lahad Datu Wildlife Department officer Hairulnizam Hasnan has confirmed receiving reports of this and other encounters with macaques by island residents.
According to accounts of the incident, the victim – bleeding and in shock – tried to escape, only for the macaque to charge again.
This time, he grabbed a machete to fend off the animal and got away to seek help. He was then rushed to the mainland by boat and taken to the hospital for treatment.
The encounter sparked growing concern among residents, who reported increasing encounters with macaques that have broken into homes to steal food, damaging crops and property, and now attacking people.
Villagers of Kampung Tanjung Paras, also on the island, say a child was recently attacked by a wild monkey.
Residents have urged the authorities to act before someone is seriously injured, or worse.
Hairulnizam said traps would be set to catch the macaques and relocate them to the Tabin Wildlife Reserve.
