MONKEYS ESCAPE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 124, 19 February 1941, Page 6

MONKEYS ESCAPE

17 Gain Freedom At Newtown Zoo

CHASE BY KEEPERS

Three Still Evading Capture

Seventeen niuiikeys which escaped from their cage at the Wellington Zoo during the recent gale led keepers and curator a hectic dance in wind and rain for more than 12 hours before the majority were recaptured. Three of the truants are still at large.

The escapees were Javan macaques, small and particularly merry and mischievous greenish-grey monkeys. They are normally confined iu a large cage not far from the main gate of the zoo.

The strong wind which blew lust, week evidently loosened a board at the back of the monkey-house. The chance was too good to be missed and the ingenious animals completed the job. They timed their escape carefully to synchronize with the lunch-hour of the keeper who looked after them; and while he was absent a stealthy procession stole through the narrow opening and sought the cover of bushes and trees in the neighbourhood. On the keeper’s return he at once noticed the absence of the monkeys from their cage. Chattering and grimacing triumphantly, the troop soon betrayed its position; the alarm was given and the hunt began. One or two of the more timid or more simple surrendered without giving much trouble; the door of the cage was left open, and they returned home, preferring dinner to liberty. The others had to be run down one by one—in the howling wind and torrential rain which prevailed that particular afternoon. The curator, Mr. C. J. Cutler, was stilt hoarse yesterday as a result of the cold he contracted during a chase which continued till the small hours of the following morning. Three Hallie I’ursuers.

Some of the monkeys were driven into such frees as could easily be sealed by their pursuers, who were able to pluck them from their hold. Others were cunningly netted. Three, however, took refuge iu the tall pine trees of the Newtown grounds, aud there they were able to baffle pursuit.

The general public was deprived by the rain from enjoying what must have been one ot the most entertaining spectacles ever seen in the zoo gardens, as the monkeys ran riot, over cages and through shrubberies, and the unwonted activity stirred other denizens of that quarter of the zoo into a hubbub of excitement.

However, because of the bad weather there were practically no strangers in the grounds at the time. This was to the advantage of the zoo staff, whose task would have been made even more difficult, if hampered by an excited crowd.

A resident of the neighbourhood subsequently set out food in his back garden, and the remaining monkeys have since taken up their quarters in the trees nearby, pleased at being able to obtain regular meals. It is expected that in a day or two he will be able Io entice them into a fowlrun and so trap them. Small And Harmless.

.Mr. Cutler said yesterday, to reassure folk living near the zoo, that the monkeys were small, harmless and of a friendly disposition. It is unlikely, therefore, that the sudden and unexpected appearance of one ot these quaint creatures will have (lie same effect upon nervous or superstitious persons as did an escaped monkey mi a Dunedin woman at the lime of the Exhibition there in 1926. It is recorded Dial I lie monkey escaped from a sideshow al the Exhibition. and wandered into a nearby cemetery. 11 was attired in barrelorgan tradition in cap. coat ami Irousers. It so happened that an Irishwoman who was unaware of the event was tending a grave iu the cemetery when site looked up to see a horrible hobgoblin, jauntily dressed, sitting on the gravestone jeering and gibbering at her, and’ was subsequently persuaded that the cemetery was haunted by the devil himself.