Scottish monkey escape – live: Woman’s leftover Yorkshire pudding lures on-the-run Kinguissie Kong to capture
The leftover roast dinner favourite attracted the Japanese macaque which had escaped from its enclosure at Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie, Inverness
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A woman inadvertently helped capture a missing Japanese macaque, nicknamed Kingussie Kong, by leaving leftover Yorkshire pudding in her garden.
Shocked Stephanie Banyan came downstairs in her home on Thursday morning to find the monkey staring through the window at her.
She later revealed that it was the roast dinner favourite which she left outside that had tempted to primate which escaped from Highland Wildlife Park near Inverness on Sunday.
“We get the pheasants in the garden, we’ve had all sorts of wildlife in the garden but never a macaque,” she told Channel 5 news.
The monkey led the authorities on a merry dance for nearly a week – but is now finally back at the wildlife park.
Staff at the park, run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), had urged the public not to approach the primate and said zookeepers were searching for the animal.
Watch: Monkey hunt as macaque goes on run after escaping from wildlife park
Drones could be used in monkey hunt
Keepers are patrolling a village as the search continues for a monkey that has escaped from a wildlife park.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is also in talks with a drone company as part of efforts to find the missing Japanese macaque.
The monkey found a way out of its enclosure at the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie on Sunday morning.
Locals encouraged not to feed macaque
Darren McGarry, head of living collections at RZSS, said: “A team of our charity’s expert keepers are patrolling the village today in order to locate and return the macaque that escaped yesterday.
“We are asking anyone who spots him to please call 07933 928377 or email comms@rzss.org.uk with information.
“Although we don’t expect the monkey to be a threat to the public or pet animals, he should not be approached.
“We are doing everything we can to locate the macaque and are in talks with a drone company to help in this process.
“Locals are being encouraged to bring in any food that is kept outside, such as food waste bins and bird feeders, to encourage the monkey to return to the park once he is hungry.”
Monkey sighting hours after escape
One couple saw the monkey in their back garden on Sunday, stating the experience was “so surreal” as they were left “elbowing each other for the best photo”.
Carl Nagle, 49, and his partner Tiina Salzberg, 50, saw the monkey from their patio doors in Kincraig on Sunday morning, where it could be seen nibbling on the nuts in their bird feeder and perching on their garden fence for around 15 minutes before running away.
Ms Salzberg, a chief strategy officer for a marketing consultancy company, said: “We were watching in awe as it’s so displaced to see a Japanese snow monkey in your garden in a village in the middle of nowhere.
“It’s just the most surreal thing, I’ve seen snow monkeys in the wild but you don’t expect to see them in your back garden in the Highland.”
What is a Japanese macaque?
Japanese macaques, also called Japanese snow macaques or simply snow monkeys, are found on three of the four main Japanese islands—Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu—and live further north than any other macaque species, according to the New England primate conservancy.
They have human-like naked faces and expressive eyes. They have cheek pouches for food storage. In adulthood, their faces and bottoms become red.
All macaques have opposable thumbs that they use to manipulate objects. They use all four limbs to get around (quadrupedal movement), but also walk just on their hind legs (bipedal) when holding something in both hands.
Same breed of monkey escaped in 2008
The same breed of monkey escaped from the same zoo 16 years ago but was recaptured within one hour, according to reports.
The Japanese animal fled Highland Wildlife Park in 2008. Three of the animals died there earlier that year. One monkey was killed by a rival in February. A second had to be put down and a third drowned.
Latest sighting of missing macaque as thermal drones deployed
Keith Gilchrist, living collections operations manager at Highland Wildlife Park said: “There has been a sighting of the macaque this morning, which we are currently responding to.
“Throughout the day our expert team of animal keepers will be patrolling the local area using a variety of techniques to try and coax him in, as well as using our thermal image drone contractor to aid with the search. Cairngorms Mountain Rescue has also kindly offered to support with their thermal imaging drone.
“As with yesterday, we’re asking locals to please bring any obvious potential food sources like bird feeders or food waste inside, as we’re hopeful that the monkey will return to the park if he can’t find food elsewhere.
“Although the macaque is not presumed dangerous to humans or pets, our advice is to not approach him but to contact our hotline on 07933928377 with any sightings.”
Are Japanese Macaque monkeys dangerous?
Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, are not usually dangerous to humans.
However, in 2022, a gang of snow monkeys terrorised residents of a Japanese city for weeks. The macaques injured almost 50 people in Yamaguchi.
Snow monkeys are common across Japan and in some areas are considered a pest, eating crops and sometimes entering homes.
What to do if you see the missing monkey?
Highland Wildlife Park has e asked locals not to bring any potential food sources into the park with the hope Kingussie Kong will return if he has eaten elsewhere.
They have asked people not to approach him in the event of a sighting- but to call their hotline 07933928377.
ICYMI - ‘I thought I was hallucinating’ - Macaque spotted on the loose yesterday morning
Tony Brown, Founder of Forces Manor told the Independent: “I run a facility with accommodation for members of the British armed forces and veterans.
“At first we thought it was some cadet in camouflage on an ‘Escape and evasion’ training exercise.
“We asked if it wanted a hotel room and turned the monkey away when he refused to give us his address.”“At first, it walked passed our building outside the veteran’s lounge and my office.
“I was definitely startled - it is such an unusual sight.“It then went into a neighbours garden and I followed it.
“I saw someone from the Wildlife Trust also following the monkey- they told me it’s not dangerous but I should stay away.
“I’m ex army so I’m not startled but it was certainly an shocking sight. I thought I was hallucinating.
“I couldn’t keep up with it and it got away. It’s not like a tiny cat - probably the same height as a fairly sized dog.
“It looked at me with its pink face thinking ‘are you going to feed me or are you going to give me the boot?’
“At least it wasn’t the tiger that escaped.”
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