Monkey on the loose in Scots village after escaping Highland Wildlife Park
28.01.2024 - 23:56
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A monkey is on the loose in a Scottish village after escaping from the Highland Wildlife Park.
The Japanese macaque escaped its enclosure at the park in Kincraig on Sunday morning.
The alarm was raised after local residents spotted the cheeky monkey prowling around in their gardens.
Videos shared on social media show the animal hanging onto garden fences and shaking nuts from a bird feeder.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, who run the park, confirmed a team are searching for the creature and plan to secure it with a net.
It is understood staff have already been called to a number of homes in the village, but the monkey had run off by the time a ranger arrived.
Members of the public who spot the macaque are being urged to not approach it, and instead contact the charity directly on [email protected] with more information.
There is a large group of Japanese macaques at the Highland Wildlife Park as part of the European Endangered Species Programme. While their numbers are stable, they have historically been hunted for food and medicine or killed.
Macaques, also known as snow monkeys, live in large social groups known as troops, which have a strict dominance hierarchy.
Darren McGarry, head of living collections at RZSS, “We can confirm one of our Japanese macaques escaped from its enclosure this morning. Our charity has set up a team who are working to secure the monkey safely and as quickly as possible.
“If members of the public encounter the macaque they should contact [email protected] with more information and do not approach it.”
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