(CNN) — A wild monkey is terrorizing a small town in southwestern Japan, breaking into homes to bite and scratch residents amid a hunt for animals, officials said.
In Yamaguchi’s Ogori area, 20 people have been attacked by monkeys since July 8, most with minor injuries, according to the city’s administrative office.
The young victim, a 10-month-old girl, was scratched on the leg after the monkey entered through a screen door on the first floor of her home.
On Tuesday night, the monkey attacked an elementary school and bit a 10-year-old boy on the arm and both hands, public broadcaster NHK reported.
He attacked two more people on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning: a woman in her 60s and a woman in her 80s who were outside at the time.
In other recent attacks, the monkey bit a man drying clothes outside and a woman whose balcony screen door was open. He also attacked two younger brothers who climbed into the house through a window, NHK reported.
Officials have not confirmed which type of monkey was responsible for the attack, but the area is home to macaques, also known as Japanese snow monkeys. Macaques can be found in parks in various parts of Japan, often scavenging for visitors’ food.
As the hunt continues, police have stepped up patrols in the area and are urging the public to keep their windows closed.
The Ogori area is mostly residential, and wild monkeys rarely venture out of the forest to harm humans, a city office spokesman said.
