The search for a monkey that escaped from a Scottish Highlands wildlife park is intensifying after the primate was spotted by a member of the public on the loose for a second night.
A Japanese macaque that jumped the fence it shares with more than 30 other animals on Sunday night was hoping it was tired of its solitary adventure.
It was spotted on a road in the Cairngorms Highland Wildlife Park and locals are urged to report any sightings to the monkey hotline and avoid food sources such as the park's bird feeders and nuts.
But a count of the macaques on Tuesday morning showed one still missing and another sighting later, prompting a response from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland team, which runs the park.
Keith Gilchrist, Live Collections Manager at Highland Wildlife Park, said: "On the day, our team of experienced wardens patrolled the area using a variety of techniques, using our thermal imaging cameras to inspire him. Drone contractors to assist with research. Cairngoms Mountain Rescue kindly offered to assist with a thermal imaging drone.
Fortunately, Brother Cairngorm, the mountain hunter's leader, is also a renowned specialist in macaque behavior at Kyoto University.
Macaques, also known as snow monkeys, are familiar with cold mountain environments.
Carl Nagle, who lives in the nearby village of Kincraig, told BBC Scotland News he was enjoying a "lazy Sunday morning" when he read a monkey warning on a local Facebook group.
“I looked out the window and saw him standing proudly, punching the fence, eating fruit that had fallen from one of the bird feeders.
“He looked a little worried, like he was somewhere he shouldn't be, and he was. He wandered around the park for a while. We thought he was gone but he came back and climbed on the bird feeders to get inside. He was very talented, he worked harder than a rebel.
One theory is that the monkey jumped the fence to relieve the stress of breeding season; In a group of macaques in a park, there are two dominant males and their rebellious partner is young and insecure.
The missing macaque does not appear to pose a threat to people or pets, but the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has advised the public to stay away from it and report any sightings to the hotline on 079339 28377.
