Japanese Macaque Escapes Highland Wildlife Park Enclosure, Public Alert Issued

A Japanese macaque has absconded from its enclosure at the Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig, within the Cairngorms National Park. The park confirmed the escape and issued an urgent plea to the public not to approach the animal, urging anyone who spots it to contact their dedicated escape line immediately.

This latest incident mirrors a previous escape in January 2024, when another macaque from the park evaded capture for over five days. That animal, named Honshu, was eventually lured back into a trap by keepers using snacks and subsequently returned to the park's care.

Officials from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which operates the park, have stated that the escaped monkey poses no direct threat to human safety, although caution is advised. The macaque is believed to be foraging for food in the local area, which includes agricultural land and residential properties.

Local authorities and park staff are coordinating efforts to locate and safely recover the animal, employing similar tactics that proved successful in the earlier escape. Residents in the vicinity have been advised to secure any accessible food sources and report sightings without attempting to interact with the primate.