The juncture of Jiufang and Jiucheng townships in Shidian County in southwest China's Yunnan Province is covered with forests and boasts beautiful natural scenery.

 

But locals have had a sense of unrest for the past three years - in fact, ever since a monkey arrived.

 

One day in April 2004, Zhao Fuwei, a resident of Jiufang Township was riding a motorcycle along the highway when he found he was being chased by a monkey.

 

"I immediately revved up, but the monkey kept chasing me for hundreds of meters, before giving up," Zhao said.

 

Several days later, Zhao learned several residents were attacked by the monkey near the juncture of Jiufang and Jiucheng townships.

 

"They reported the incident to the county forest police bureau," Zhao said.

 

Staff from the bureau visited the site and identified the monkey as a long-tailed leaf gray, a species that enjoys State protection. They said it must have been abandoned by its group, Yunnan Daily reported.

 

As the monkey had created a lot of trouble for residents of the townships, they planned to kill it. However, being a rare species, they were stopped by forestry police.

 

Since then, many residents harassed by the monkey, have tried to drive it away, but to no avail.

 

It has attacked more than 50 people in the past two years.

 

Zhang Baowen, head of Jiuzhai Village in Jiufang Township, said: "Whenever one parks his motorcycle under a tree near the juncture of the townships, the monkey arrives.

 

"If the rider is away, the monkey sits on the vehicle, playing with the handlebars," Zhang said.

 

He said the monkey has a dislike for jeeps. It has smashed the taillights of 27.

 

The dislike goes back to an incident where the monkey was chased by several young men in a jeep.

 

Since then, jeeps have become its worst enemy.

 

Yang Guohai, head of Liga Village in Jiucheng Township has had his jeep attacked twice by the monkey.

 

A cigarette company in Jiufang Township had to sell its vehicle because of the attacks.

 

As the story of the monkey spread, it sparked fear in students who would travel to and from school in groups.

 

To pacify the monkey, they would offer it food.

 

One villager said the monkey had run riot, but they could do nothing about it, being a rare species.

 

Residents have approached deputies to the people's congress in both townships, to contact zoos willing to give the primate a home.

 

Meanwhile, it continues with its wayward ways.

 

(China Daily June 1, 2007)