Breeding season bust up could have led to monkey escape
Keepers at the Highland Wildlife Park are still tracking a missing macaque
Last updated 29th Jan 2024
Scotland may be home to a number of wild beasts, but it's hoped that a dedicated monkey helpline will aid keepers at the Highland Wildlife Park in catching a missing Japanese macaque.
The naughty primate was spotted in the nearby village of Kincraig helping himself to nuts while attempts were made to monitor his movements and lure him back to his Highland enclosure.
Experts hope the best way to get him back is to limit his options to food while he is roaming the Highlands, after asking locals to remove birdfeeders and any other potential snacking items like foodbins.
Keith Gilchrist, the Living Collections Operations Manager, at the Highland Wildlife Park said:
"We're hoping he will make the decision on his own to come back, as he's part of a large troop of Japanese macaques - they're a very social species
"If he can't find any food resources then he will make that decision to come back
"It's the breeding season, so tensions are quite high among the troop and fights will break out between males as to breeding rights
"Adrenaline has probably got the better of him and he's probably just made a bolt for it and managed to clear the fence"
"There was a monkey, munching on my nuts!" - eyewitness Carl Nagle
Earlier in the escape, the monkey was spotted in-and-around the village of Kincraig, with one eye-witness Carl Nagle seeing the macaque in his own garden.
"It's not something you expect every Sunday morning", said Carl who managed to film some shots of the monkey as he thought no one would believe him.
He was on a facetime call with his daughter who alerted him to the monkey's escape.
"I thought, what are the chances he's in our garden now? And what do you know - there was a monkey, munching on my nuts!", he added.
The monkey had been at Carl's birdfeeder and also exploring around his hot-tub while getting used to his new surroundings.
"Badger, stoats, we get a lot of deer in the garden, plenty of birds, a couple of rutting pheasant, but never a monkey before - there's a first time for everything
"There's plenty of food for him to forage so he's probably out there just now living his best life.
"That said, it's probably best he gets home to his troop now as I know they are social animals"