Home / Environment / Monkey Escapes Scottish Zoo, Search Underway
Monkey Escapes Scottish Zoo, Search Underway
17 Aug
Summary
- A young male Japanese macaque named Luka escaped his enclosure.
- Search teams are using a thermal imaging drone to find him.
- Public advised not to approach the monkey and report sightings.
A search is currently underway for Luka, a young male Japanese macaque, who escaped his enclosure at the Highland Wildlife Park in Scotland's Cairngorms National Park. The escape occurred overnight, and Luka was last seen in the Balavil area. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is utilizing various methods, including a thermal imaging drone, to locate the missing macaque.
RZSS head of animal care Darren McGarry stated that male monkeys leaving their groups is not uncommon due to complex primate group dynamics. He emphasized that Luka poses no danger to the public, but advised against approaching him and requested that any sightings be reported. This situation is reminiscent of another Japanese macaque, Honshu, who escaped the same park in January 2024 and was found five days later feeding from a bird feeder.
