Malaysian baby killed by macaque monkey Published duration 7 October 2010

image caption Macaque monkeys can become aggressive when in search of food or mates

A Malaysian baby girl has died after being snatched by a monkey which bit her then dropped her from a roof.

The four-day-old was sleeping in the living room of her home in the central Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan when a macaque monkey entered.

The baby had been briefly left alone. Wildlife officials said the monkey had probably been searching for food.

The officials said it was the first case of an attack by wild monkeys on a human in the state.

The child's mother, 26-year-old V Revathy, said she had left her baby to go to the bathroom and the baby's grandfather had gone to get a glass of water.

"We frantically searched all over the house and saw her body covered in blood lying outside the house," the child's grandfather A Valayutham told the Star newspaper.

The baby had serious bite and scratch marks on her ears, neck and head.

The newborn, who had not been named yet, died on her way to hospital.

"She was our bundle of joy and we were looking forward to spending many happy years with her... I just cannot believe she's gone," said V Neru, the baby's father.

State wildlife officials said they had shot the monkey they believed was responsible for the attack.

Assistant wildlife official Mohd Zafifi Ramli told the BBC that macaque monkeys were breeding too fast in Malaysia.

With the country rapidly developing, he said, there was less forest for wild animals to live in.

Mr Zafifi said the monkeys were also attracted to urban areas because many people fed them.