Monkeys destroy Sóc Trăng crops, attack residents

SÓC TRĂNG — People in Sóc Trăng Province’s Tham Đôn Commune are complaining that wild monkeys have destroyed their fruit gardens and attacked local residents.

Trần Thươl, a farmer in Cần Giờ 1 Village, told online newspaper dantri.com.vn that a herd of five monkeys often came to his garden to find food.

Two of the monkeys are about 10 kilogrammes and the rest are between two and five kilogrammes.

He said local people used to feed the monkeys, so they became familiar with the village and its residents.

The monkeys became quite ferocious. They caught hens and threw eggs, bit electric lines and broke lamps.  

They were even known to attack children to get food, he said. At least seven people, including a twelve-year-old girl, were attacked.

Cao Ngọc Trung, senior official from Sóc Trăng Province’s Sub-department on Forest Protection, said the sub-department had sent staff to set traps to catch the monkeys, but failed.

Trung said the sub-department would work with local environmental police and the People’s Committee of Mỹ Xuyên District to catch the monkeys and return them to Cù Lao Dung Forest. — VNS