✕CloseDrone footage locates monkey on the run after escaping Highlands zoo
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world
Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email
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.
Recommended
- Monkey hunt as macaque goes on the run after escaping from wildlife park
- Escaped monkey filmed for second time in Scottish town
- Escaped monkey sighted as thermal imaging drones used in hunt
Show latest update 1706819081
Last moments of monkey’s escape captured in drone footage
BH Wildlife Consultancy – which aided with the drone search for the escaped macaque – has published a clip from the moment the monkey was captured.
Andy Gregory1 February 2024 20:241706817941
Macaque shown back at wildlife park in new footage
Here is some footage of the newly recaptured macaque rehoused at the Highland Wildlife Park, following its days-long escapade through the Strathspey countryside.
Andy Gregory1 February 2024 20:051706817197
Finding escaped monkey in our garden ‘a story to tell the grandchildren'
A woman who found the escaped macaque sitting in her garden this morning has said it will be “a story to tell the grandchildren”.
“I came down this morning, sat in the sunroom with my cup of coffee, just glanced to the side and the monkey was just looking straight in the window at me,” said Stephanie Banyan.
“I was shocked and I just ran down to Howard and said ‘the monkey’s in our garden’. He came down here and jumped up on the wall here and sat here for a little while,” Ms Banyan told Channel 5 News.
“It’ll be a story to tell the grandchildren,” she added.
Andy Gregory1 February 2024 19:531706814726
Watch: ‘He was staring straight in the window at me'
Alex Ross1 February 2024 19:121706813607
‘I was shocked'
Stephanie Banyan told Channel 5 News how she found the monkey staring at her when coming down for breakfast on Thursday morning.
“I thought I better call the hotline,” she said after looking at the missing macaque.
She later revealed it was a leftover Yorkshire pudding which tempted the primate top her back door.
The monkey outside Stephanie’s window
(Stephanie Banyan/Shutterstock)
Stephanie revealed it was a Yorkshire pudding which tempted the macaque
(Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock)
Alex Ross1 February 2024 18:531706794200
Monkey’s real name revealed as Honshu
The missing monkey’s real name has been revealed as Honshu, after days of being dubbed “Kingussie Kong” because of the area it fled to.
Keith Gilchrist, living collections operations manager at Highland Wildlife Park, said zookeepers were able to tranquilise and catch the animal while it was eating from a birdfeeder.
“We can confirm we have successfully caught the macaque that escaped from the park on Sunday, named Honshu,” Mr Gilchrist said.
“After a call to our hotline just after 10am our keepers and drone team made their way to a member of the public’s garden where the monkey was eating from a birdfeeder and successfully used a tranquiliser dart to catch him.
“The monkey is on the way back to the park with our keepers where he will be looked over by one of our vet team and reintroduced to sub-adult males within the group.
“We want to thank everyone who has helped during the process and will continue to share any further updates.”
Alexander Butler1 February 2024 13:301706789993
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.
Alexander Butler1 February 2024 12:191706789528
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.
Sam Rkaina1 February 2024 12:121706788900
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.”
Sam Rkaina1 February 2024 12:011706785337
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.
Sam Rkaina1 February 2024 11:02NewerOlder✕
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log in
Popular videos
{{/link}}