29 January 2024 , 08:24
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A monkey is still on the loose despite days of searching after it escaped from a wildlife park in the Scottish Highlands.
The Japanese macaque found a way out of its enclosure at Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie on Sunday morning and was seen swinging around residential gardens but has not been spotted since to be captured.
Fears continue to grow for the primate's safety as temperatures plummet to -2C. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, who run the park, confirmed they are searching for the creature and plan to secure it with a net. According to the Met Office, temperatures in Kincraig will plummet to -2C tonight. Staff have already visited several homes in the village following sightings, but the monkey had run off before a ranger arrived.
Locals have been told not to approach the macaque if they spot it, but to contact the charity directly at [email protected]. The Highland Wildlife Park is home to a large group of Japanese macaques as part of the European Endangered Species Programme. Macaques, also known as snow monkeys, live in large social groups known as troops.
Carl Nagle, 49, was woken abruptly on a “chilled” Sunday morning by his daughter screaming: “Dad! There’s a monkey on the street!” He told The Press and Journal: “We went outside the house and there it was in the garden. It was amazing. A juvenile Japanese snow monkey that we’ve seen many times at the wildlife park, sitting next to my fence eating nuts that have fallen from my bird feeders. It wandered back and forth and ran around the garden a little before returning to have a good go at another feeder.”
Monkeys missing from zoo after mysterious break in found in abandoned home
Residents were shocked to find a monkey in their garden (No credit)
People are being urged not to approach the animal (No credit)Darren McGarry, who's in charge of the animals at RZSS, said: "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." He also warned: "If members of the public encounter the macaque they should contact [email protected] with more information and do not approach it."