A candy-stealing monkey that terrorised a neighbourhood for two months; raiding homes through open windows and even brawling with some protective German Shepherds
A “thieving” monkey’s reign of terror has come to an end after a months-long campaign that left a neighbourhood living like prisoners. The hulking long-tailed macaque was snared in Cat Lai Ward in Ho Chi Minh City’s Thu Duc area on Wednesday (October 7) after repeatedly breaking into houses, stealing sweets, causing mayhem and even squaring up to a pair of German Shepherds.
Officials said rangers from the Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Sub-Department worked with local authorities and residents to catch the animal, described as a large 9.5kg male long-tailed macaque. The species is listed as endangered, precious, and rare under Vietnamese law.
Locals reportedly said the monkey had been marauding around the 50-hectare residential zone for two months. Moreover, the thief was often clattering across rooftops of closely packed buildings, making noise and keeping families on edge.
One resident, identified as B.H., told Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper the monkey had been roaming the area for about two months. “It goes around the rows of houses looking for food,” H. said.
The local added: “If a household forgets to close a window, it jumps right inside. The other day, it got into my house, tore open several boxes of milk and packets of candy, and scattered them all over the floor.
“We have children, so everyone is constantly worried and has to keep the doors and windows closed all day.” The chaos escalated on the afternoon of Tuesday (October 6) when the macaque got into a scrap with two German Shepherd dogs owned by a local family.
The monkey reportedly suffered swelling near its eye, but still managed to flee back to the rooftops. On Wednesday morning, the macaque returned to the same spot outside the dogs’ home, and residents sprang into action.
Neighbourhood security guards and locals used bananas to lure the animal and keep it distracted, then alerted the authorities. Forest rangers arrived within minutes and, from around 10 metres away, fired a specialised tranquiliser dart.
Within about 30 minutes, the sedated monkey was safely restrained in a net bag, ending the neighbourhood’s nightmare. Because the animal is protected, officials said it was not harmed.
It has been taken to the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station for medical checks and care, and will later be released back into a suitable forest environment far from built-up areas.
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