Monday, October 28, 2013
Search for monkeys that escaped from Belfast zoo
A search is continuing for two
monkeys who escaped from their enclosure at Belfast zoo. Six lion-tailed
macaques managed to get out on Monday - four have since been
returned. The other two monkeys have been seen in the grounds or near
the zoo. Belfast zoo said it has been monitoring their movements and has
positioned a
number of traps and staff in the areas where the missing animals have
been
seen.
One of the monkeys was captured by zoo keepers in the grounds of Belfast
Castle. The incident was filmed by Michael McGowan, who was walking his dog in the
castle grounds at the time. Mr McGowan said he spotted the monkey shortly before it leapt on to a
window ledge on the castle. "The dog took a second glance, I took a second glance, and the monkey wasn't in
the least bit worried about human beings being about," he added.
He said zoo keepers arrived with a dart gun to sedate the animal, but it
tried to escape before they could fire a shot, so one keeper "rugby tackled" the
monkey to the ground. Another one of the monkeys made a surprise
appearance on a "peace wall" fence
at a primary school in Newtownabbey on Thursday morning. The animal
perched on the fence at Hazelwood Integrated school, on the
Whitewell Road, during the school run. Tricia Douglas, a teacher in the
school's nursery department, took a photograph of the unusual visitor
who appeared shortly after she arrived for work.
Ms Douglas said a classroom assistant had noticed the monkey at about
8:30am and the school authorities then alerted the zoo. She said the
schoolchildren were excited by the sight of the monkey and
offered him some bananas, which he came down off the fence to collect
and
eat. However, she added that the animal ran off before zookeepers
arrived to catch
it. Belfast zoo manager, Mark Challis, said: "We are confident that all
of the
macaques will soon be found and returned to their enclosure. If anyone
sees the lion-tailed macaques we would ask them to contact the zoo
immediately. "
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