Wild monkey kills 4-day-old Malaysian-Indian baby
By ANIThursday, October 7, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR - An Indian-origin family in Malaysia was devastated when a wild monkey stole into their living room; snatched their four- day-old child and fled up the roof of the house. The baby fell to the ground and died.
The mother, V. Revathy, 26, had left her first-born child in the living room of the single-storey house near Taman Happy Garden to use the toilet. At 1.15pm, the macaque entered the living room and snatched the baby.
The baby’s body was discovered later outside the house with her face and neck badly bitten. She was rushed to the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital here where she was pronounced dead, reported The Star Online.
Revathi’s father-in-law A. Valayutham was in the living room with the newborn but had gone to get a glass of water when the tragedy occurred.
The area where the family stayed was sandwiched between two residential areas with foliage of trees nearby where there were monkeys. The area where the family stayed was sandwiched between two residential areas with foliage of trees nearby where there were monkeys.
“We suspect the macaque was rummaging for food inside the house. It could have taken the baby to the roof thinking the newborn was food,” said Negri Sembilan Wildlife and National Parks director Ishak Muhamad.
He added that the parents had called the Fire and Rescue Department at 2.15pm, which immediately contacted the Wildlife and National Parks Department.
“This is very unusual. Normally, these monkeys simply steal food or pluck fruit from the yard,” he said.
The baby’s father, lorry driver V. Neru, 29, who was not at home when the incident occurred, was stunned.
“She was our bundle of joy and we were looking forward to spending many happy years with her … I just cannot believe she’s gone,” he said.
Rahang assemblyman M.K. Arumugam, who visited the family yesterday evening, expressed regret over the incident.
“I have brought this matter up before but sadly no action was taken. I am very disappointed that something like this had to happen before the authorities took notice,” he said. (ANI)
