Video: Escaped monkey from Beekse Bergen still on the loose after nearly a month
A male crested mangabey that escaped from Safaripark Beekse Bergen nearly a month ago remains on the loose in Noord-Brabant. The animal continues to evade capture despite repeated sightings and search efforts.
The primate is still alive and is spotted from time to time, a park spokesperson told RTL. Caretakers are dispatched to every reported sighting, but the monkey recognizes and avoids the staff even when they are in civilian clothes.
The crested mangabey, identifiable by its upright crest of hair on its head, has primarily been seen in the wooded area around Esbeek, near Tilburg, close to the safari park in Hilvarenbeek.
The animal is sustaining itself well in the wild, feeding on fruit, seeds, insects, and tree bark—"everything that is currently available in nature," the spokesperson said. Mild weather has also worked in the monkey's favor.
Park staff have placed baited trap cages with food in the area where the monkey is being sighted. Searches have also been conducted using drones and thermal cameras, so far without success.
"In a forest full of leaves, the monkey is difficult to find. He has to be tranquilized, but he is hard to spot and very fast. And such a trap cage only works if he is hungry. That makes it somewhat challenging," the spokesperson said.
The park expects it could take several more weeks before the monkey is found. Officials are urging the public to continue reporting sightings through the phone number listed on the park's website.
