Monkey search in Badenoch village will resume tomorrow
It's a night of freedom for the Japanese macaque monkey which found its way to Kincraig this morning after breaking out of the Highland Wildlife Park some three miles away.
Villagers were astonished to see the animal – thought to be a juvenile avoiding a fight in its protected compound – wandering freely around their gardens.
Many were quick to catch photos and video of the monkey as it sought out some nourishment.
"It was quite a sight seeing it going at our birdfeeder," said Carl Nagle at Woodside. "It was determined to get at those nuts but it didn't seem to be having much success."
The monkey then moved on through the Dunachton Road gardens and was next spotted by Tony Brown at Forces Manor.
"We have many characters from the military booking in here," he told the Strathy, "and for a moment we thought it was some cadet in camouflage!
"It just walked happily across our lawn. Completely unflustered. We were so stunned we didn't even get time to find out phones and capture it digitally, at least.
"It soon wondered away into the undergrowth further along the village. We hope it's going to be found OK and returned to its family. I know how social these creatures are and as night sets in I reckon it may be a bit disorientated and nervous."
This afternoon the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which owns the wildlife park, told the Strathy that the monkey had indeed escaped from the security of its compound.
Darren McGarry, head of living collections at: “We can confirm one of our Japanese macaques escaped from its enclosure.
"Our charity has set up a team who are working to secure the monkey safely and as quickly as possible.
“If members of the public encounter the macaque they should contact comms@rzss.org.uk with more information and do not approach it.”
Tonight a spokesperson at RZSS confirmed the search had not been successful as yet.
"Nothing yet. We'll update again in the morning."
