Taitung County Macaque Loses Both Arms

Concerned citizens have uploaded pictures of a severely injured Formosan macaque to a Facebook group in the hope of getting the attention of relevant authorities.

A Facebook user surnamed Lee uploaded pictures and video taken on May 8 of a macaque in Taitung County’s Donghe township. The animal has both forelimbs missing, with exposed bone and bloody flesh.

After the pictures were uploaded to the I Love Taitung Facebook group, other users also uploaded pictures of the same animal taken in previous days. Users called on Taitung County Magistrate Justin Huang to take action to provide veterinary help for the animal.

The county agricultural bureau said it has launched rescue operations since the animal was reported around one week ago. However, veterinarians have so far failed to capture the animal, which is very shy of humans. Veterinarians and agriculture bureau staff have tried several times, but can’t get close enough to shoot the animal with a tranquilizer dart. The agriculture bureau has also set up cage traps in the area.

Netizens suspect the animal was injured in a claw trap, but the agriculture bureau said its difficult to speculate on the cause of the injuries.

Video posted to Facebook showed the pitiful animal foraging for food using its mouth to eat off the ground.

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