Escaped monkey 'may be heading home' as drone picks up thermal image near park
An escaped monkey “may be heading home” as a drone picked up thermal images of what may be the runaway just yards from the wildlife park entrance.
A Japanese macaque escaped from a wildlife park in the Cairngorms, on Sunday, triggering a major search for the on-the-run animal. The monkey escaped from the wildlife park in Kincraig, near Aviemore, and locals residents were shocked to see it casually strolling through their village, eating nuts from a bird feeder.
It was later spotted swinging around in their gardens. But now, a drone operated by Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team picked up a thermal image of what may be the monkey, just a few hundred yards from the park entrance.
The image has yet to be confirmed as being the animal, but experts believe that the Japanese macaque - also known as a snow monkey - may decide to return after its period of freedom. It managed to breakout from an enclosure on Sunday and was seen about two miles away. The seven-year-old male, which is about the size of a medium-sized dog, was part of a troop of 37 animals.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which runs the park, said the escapee may have been trying to avoid a bust-up with others in its group. RZSS' Keith Gilchrist said: "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 sometimes fights break out over breeding rights.
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"When that happens the animals' adrenaline can sometimes override everything and rather than get into a fight it seems this one has just gone for it and got past the enclosure perimeter fence."
During the sightings in Kincraig, Carl Nagle, 49, and his partner Tiina Salzberg, 50, saw the monkey from their patio doors in Kincraig on Sunday morning. Mr Nagle said: "I looked out the window and there he was, proud as punch, standing against the fence eating nuts that had fallen down from one of the bird feeders."
The snow monkey, in the wilds of Japan, live in a range of habits, including cold mountain ranges. Troops in some parts of the country famously bathe in natural hot springs to escape the worst of the winter cold. Dr Kirsty Graham, a research fellow at the University of St Andrews, said the monkeys can survive temperatures of -40C - so have nothing to worry about in Scotland.
A thermal image that may be the monkey on the run
Locals were shocked to see the monkey swinging through their gardens in Kincraig (Daily Record)She said: "Temperature-wise it should hopefully be fine in the Highlands." Dr Graham added that finding enough food was likely to be the monkey's biggest challenge, but added that this could lead it to seeking out its troop back at the wildlife park.
RZSS said it did not think the monkey posed a threat to the public or pets, but has asked that people do not approach it and to get in touch with sightings. Dr Graham said people should keep their distance and treat the monkey as they would any other wild or large animal.
It's hoped the monkey will get hungry and return home to its enclosure (CARL NAGLE)She said: "You wouldn't approach a deer too close - or even a cow in a field. It's not going to be coming deliberately to chase you or attack you, but if you get too close it might feel uncomfortable and attack out of defence."
A team from RZSS has been patrolling the area around the wildlife park since the alarm was first raised in the hope of recapturing it. The team has also been using a drone fitted with thermal imaging technology as part of the search effort. The area around the park includes forestry, moorland and small communities.
Cairngorm Mountain rescue team members who think that they may have picked up a thermal heat image of the missing monkey using their specialist droneRZSS has asked people not to leave out food bins, bird feed or any food for the monkey. Reasons for this include that the animal could become unwell by eating something it should not. It is hoped the monkey will get hungry and return to the park. Dr Graham said macaques were intelligent, social animals and it could return to the park to find its troop, adding that people in the local area might even hear it making contact calls.
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