Escaped Pig-Tailed Macaque Attacks Three People in Gunungkidul

A pig-tailed macaque escaped from the Bunder Wildlife Protection Unit (UPS) enclosure in Playen, Gunungkidul, and attacked three people, leaving the victims injured. One of the victims, Rubijan (50), a resident of Gading VIII, explained that he initially saw his neighbour F (6) being embraced by the macaque on Monday (8/6) around 4 p.m. local time. Because F and the macaque were rolling around, Rubijan approached them. “When I tried to help, the macaque turned on me and I suffered injuries to my left arm and lower left thigh, probably from being bitten and scratched. But the important thing is that he (F) could be released from the macaque,” he told journalists on Tuesday (9/6/2026). As a result of the wound, Rubijan required several stitches. F also sustained an injury to the lower right thigh. “After the incident, I chased the macaque away, but it went to the neighbourhood chief’s house instead,” he said. The head of RT 08 Gading VIII, Mugiyono, said the macaque ransacked the front of his house. Mugiyono then placed bananas around his house so that the animal would stop. “I then called the fire brigade and finally the residents decided to chase the macaque until nightfall,” he said. However, the efforts of Mugiyono and the residents did not bear fruit until he finally received information that the macaque had been caught today. “I got information earlier that the macaque has been caught, it was caught today. It was caught by officers from Bunder,” he said. In light of the incident, Mugiyono expressed regret that the Yogyakarta Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) had not yet visited his two residents who were victims of the macaque attack. He also called for notification regarding animals that escape from the rescue centre. “Until now, no one has visited my two residents. They even had to pay for their own medical treatment. I mean, even though this was an accident, at the very least they should be visited and asked how they are doing,” he said. The Head of BKSDA Yogyakarta, Darmanto, said the macaque escaped from UPS Bunder on Sunday (7/6) afternoon. The animal also attacked a BKSDA officer who was on duty. “On Sunday around 4 p.m. local time, the animal enclosure broke, allowing the animal to escape. Then at 4:20 p.m. the animal attacked the duty officer at UPS Bunder,” he said. After the incident, the macaque fled and officers immediately carried out a search. As a result, the animal was caught today. “The animal was successfully caught at 11:25 a.m. local time and evacuated to UPS Bunder,” he said.