A tourist fell to his death on Tuesday after being chased by monkeys and falling down a flight of steps while visiting Lushan Mountain in Xichang, southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
The 65-year-old victim, surnamed Chen, was walking down the mountain with his family when the incident occurred, according to the Xichang local government.
Chen was sent to a local hospital after falling down the steps. /Chengdu Business Daily Photo
Chen, who accidentally bumped into a tree alongside the footpath and then fell off the steps while being chased by three monkeys, died of serious head injuries after being sent to a local hospital, read an official statement released by the local government on Wednesday on its official Weibo account.
Chengdu Business Daily reported that the monkeys, who had been chased away after trying to grab belongings from tourists, were in an agitated state when they carried out the assault on Chen.
The official statement made by Xichang government on Wednesday on its Weibo account following the incident. /Weibo screenshot
The statement by Xichang government said that a further investigation is underway and relevant departments have reinforced security control at the resort.
The accident, which has caused debate on social media in China, has led to many netizens voicing concerns over safety at the mountain site. This incident was actually far from the first time that wild monkeys have caused problems, thrusting the area into the spotlight.
Ferocious monkeys at Lushan Mountain /Chengdu Business Daily
Lushan Mountain, known as a popular getaway from the stifling summer weather, is covered in lush forest as well as wildlife reserves. It is now home to over 200 national protected macaques that are notorious for stealing food from local residents and attacking visitors.
Wild macaques. /VCG Photo
From December last year to July, more than 40 tourists have been injured by the ferocious animals. The attacks came despite the scenic spot sending over a hundred of the rampant monkeys to other provinces to address the growing safety problem in 2015.
12-year-old Xiaojie was seriously injured by monkeys on Lushan Mountain in September 2016. /Chengdu Business Daily Photo
A 12-year-old senior school student was seriously wounded in September 2016, after being besieged by a troop of vicious macaques on his way back home up the mountain.
Lushan Mountain, however, is not the only scenic spot to have seen high-profile monkey attacks on humans.
Yuntai Mountain in Jiaozuo, central China's Henan Province. /VCG Photo
Yuntai Mountain in Jiaozuo, central China’s Henan Province, is a UNESCO-listed World Geologic Park. It made international headlines in April last year after Wen Mao, former chairman of the Shanghai-based famous food brand Guanshengyuan Group, died after being hit by a falling rock thought to have been kicked down by a monkey.
Wen Mao, former chairman of Shanghai-based Guanshengyuan Group, died after being hit by a falling rock reportedly kicked at him by a monkey while visiting Yuntai Mountain in April last year. /people.cn Photo
“The monkeys are not afraid of people partly because visitors usually feed them with peanuts and beverages,” staff from Lushan Mountain resort told Chengdu Business Daily. They called on visitors not to play with the macaques, and reach out to security personnel in time when being confronted with groups of monkeys.
