A 49-year-old man says a wild macaque grabbed a stray cat and hurled it into his garden pond, then climbed onto his roof, leapt on his back and clawed him before fleeing
A man has claimed a wild monkey tried to drown a cat by flinging it into a garden pond – before turning on him in a shocking back-garden attack. The bizarre confrontation happened in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
An adult Japanese macaque reportedly wandered onto the 49-year-old homeowner’s property at around 3.40pm on Tuesday (October 13). The resident told local reports he isn’t a pet owner, but a stray cat regularly hangs around his garden, which has a pond.
He said he suddenly heard a loud splash, and when he went to check, he allegedly saw a monkey, estimated to be about 50cm (19.7 inches) tall, grab the cat and hurl it straight into the water.
As he moved in to check on the terrified animal, the macaque reportedly scrambled up onto the roof and stared down at him “menacingly”. Moments later, the man said, the monkey leapt back to ground level.
When the homeowner briefly turned his back, the macaque jumped onto his back and aggressively clawed at him, even though he was wearing heavy work clothes, Sora News 24 reported. The primate then fled into nearby woodland.
The man was reportedly left with long scratches across his skin. His injuries were described as minor, but he still sought medical attention.
The cat reportedly managed to scramble out of the pond and was said to have survived without serious injury. The incident has sparked fresh concern in the area, with wildlife officials warning it isn’t a one-off.
Just last month, on September 8, a monkey in another part of Shunan City reportedly grabbed a local woman and tore at her clothing. The latest attack comes amid a wider wave of unsettling wildlife encounters in Japan.
After months of bears dominating headlines, reports suggest monkeys are now causing growing alarm too – including the infamous “Troop T1” in Yugawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, which has been blamed for surrounding and attacking a man out for a morning stroll, as per Sora News 24. Following the Shunan incident, municipal officials and wildlife experts reiterated safety advice for anyone who comes face-to-face with a wild macaque.
Residents are urged to avoid direct eye contact, make themselves look as large as possible (for example by opening a coat), and back away slowly and calmly without sudden movements. People are also advised to keep pet food indoors and ensure doors and windows – including sliding ones – are securely locked.
Police have reportedly been stepping up patrols and urging locals to stay cautious as concerns grow over aggressive primate behaviour.
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