Jiao Dingqiong and the monkey

Jiao Dingqiong was the first person to see the monkey on the morning of Sept. 26 as she harvested eggplants near her home in Sichuan province. Within two days, the monkey had bitten a total of six people in Jiao's village.

That afternoon, Jiao’s mother and daughter-in-law found the monkey sitting in a tree where they planned to gather walnuts. Before they knew what was happning, the monkey quickly jumped onto the older woman's back and and bit her. The monkey bit four villagers the same day it arrived. Another two villagers were bitten on Sept. 27.

The local forestry bureau explained that the monkey is an adult rhesus monkey, a second-class national protected species.

Another villager, Yang Hanquan, speculated that the monkey didn't dare to approach households that kept dogs, and that it was also less likely to bite men.

"The monkey bit women who expected it to be unfriendly. Among the six people who were bitten, there was only one male," Yang said.

Hu Jiayun, director of the local wild animal protection center, observed that the monkey wasn't afraid of humans. He believed the monkey was likely domesticated, and that it may have escaped from the circus since a circus vehicle overturned nearby some time ago.

Hu also said that the monkey is currently being observed, and experts are trying to determine whether it will hurt more villagers. The best method to capture the monkey is still being debated, as its speed and agility make it difficult to pursue.