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.
Kingussie Kong pictured underneath branches
Monkey could have been running from fight, zookeeper says
The monkey which escaped from a Scottish zoo might have been running from a fight during breeding season, a zookeeper said.
Keith Gilchrist, of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said high tensions among primates could have caused the animal to flee.
“It’s a very dynamic group of animals with quite a strong hierarchy. This time of year is breeding season so tensions run a little bit high and some times fights break out over breeding rights,” Mr Gilchrist told the BBC.
“When that happens the animals’ adrenaline can some times over-ride everything and rather than get into a fight it seems this one has just gone for it and got past the enclosure perimeter fence.”
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.
Watch: Drone footage locates monkey on the run after escaping Highlands zoo
Monkey 300 metres away from zoo in footage
The escaped monkey was 300 metres way from the zoo, according to experts.
The Japanese macaque, nicknamed Kingussie Kong, was spotted sitting underneath some branches as experts said the animal was in good health.
Watch: Escaped monkey filmed for second time in Scottish town
Escaped monkey filmed for second time in Scottish town
A monkey which escaped from a wildlife park in Scotland two days ago has been spotted again as efforts to recapture him continue. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said keepers are responding to a sighting of the Japanese Macaque close to the town of Kinguisse on Tuesday morning (30 January). Thermal imaging drones are being used in the hunt for the monkey, which found a way out of its enclosure at Highland Wildlife Park. People in the area are being urged to bring in any food that is stored outside to encourage the monkey to return to the park when it is hungry, and have been advised not to approach the animal.
Improved weather allows drone to resume search for missing monkey
A drone is again being used to search for a monkey which escaped from a wildlife park four days ago.
Experts were able to follow the progress of the Japanese macaque for 45 minutes using a drone on Tuesday with help from BH Wildlife Consultancy, and said he appeared to be making his way closer to Highland Wildlife Park.
However they were unable to use the device on Wednesday due to high winds, with a yellow weather warning in place in the area.
A drone is being used again on Thursday and keepers will be hoping to catch a glimpse of the monkey and then work out how to retrieve him.
Search enters fifth day
Keith Gilchrist, living collections operations manager at the wildlife park, said: “Our teams are back out again today along with BH Wildlife Consultancy using the drone to try and locate the monkey.
“We’re continuing to ask locals to please bring any obvious potential food sources like bird feeders or food waste inside.
“Although the macaque is not presumed dangerous to humans or pets, our advice is to not approach him but to contact our hotline on 07933 928 377 with any sightings.”
Missing monkey found
The missing monkey has been found after a five day hunt.
Kingussie Kong, was found on Thursday morning, a couple of miles from the park he vanished from, the BBC reports.
Staff at the Highlands wildlife park are now checking him over, the broadcaster said.
Monkey was tranquilised 300m from zoo
The missing monkey was tranquilised 300m from the zoo it escaped from.
Kingussie Kong, was found on Thursday morning, a couple of miles from the park he vanished from, according to reports.
The Independent has contacted Highlands Wildlife Park for comment.
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