KUANTAN: The hunt is on to capture a wild short-tail macaque (beruk) which has been giving villagers in Taman Murni here sleepless nights over the past three days.

The district National Parks and Wildlife Department (Perhilitan) department has set a trap for the primate using a metre-long cage with bananas inside.

State Perhilitan director Khairiah Mohd Shariff said a team of rangers were keeping a close eye on the trap.

She said initial investigations revealed that the creature had attacked villagers because of hunger due to the rainy season and made it difficult to forage for food.

She said the clearing of jungle in the area could also have forced the animals to look for food in the village.

"One attack saw the monkey going for a piece of chocolate in the victim's hand. and we believe the animal was eyeing for it."

It is also learnt that the macaque had suffered a slash wound on the head after another victim used a parang to prevent it from hurting his granddaughter.

Last Sunday, the animal had attacked Khairul Azwan Khairuddin, 14, while he was having dinner with his parents at a stall. Thirty minutes later, it bit Nuha Nurfaiqah Sheikh Akhbar, 7, at her aunt's house here.

Eleven hours later, it attacked a toddler, Fatini Sakira Ahmad Safri, 2, who was playing with her sisters in the living hall at their grandparents house here.

Fatini's grandmother who came to her rescue also suffered injuries on her right hand. The duo were later rushed to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan hospital here for treatment.

Meanwhile, Khairiah said she did not rule out the possibility of more than one animal being involved in the attacks.

Resident, Ahmad Nubli, 46, said the attacks were the first reported in the area since he moved to live there in 2000.

"I hope the animal will be captured soon as they are a threat to children and adults who are afraid to open their doors during the day."