Reward offered for renegade monkeys

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SHIZUOKA, Japan, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Japanese authorities are offering a reward for the capture of violent monkeys, wildlife officials say.

More than 80 people have been injured in monkey attacks in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, and three other towns since Aug. 22, The Yomiuri Shimbun said Thursday.

Containing one of the renegade primates in a room until wildlife officials capture it will earn the captor a reward of $1,700.

A monkey sighting Wednesday resulted in about 150 government employees launching a search, but they returned empty-handed, the report said.

Most attack victims suffered bites to arms and feet when the monkeys jumped them from behind. The Wildlife Protection and Hunting Law prohibits the capture of monkeys without permission.