Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Runaway monkey killed on the M2
Belfast Zoo escapee seen ‘sauntering’ down a street killed by car on motorway
A MONKEY caught on video “sauntering” down a street after escaping Belfast Zoo has died.
It is thought the male primate got out at around 6pm on Saturday.
A video of the spider monkey at a bus stop was posted later that night on social media.
Deborah Mccann, whose partner Darren took the footage, said: “It’s so sad. I uploaded it for a laugh, it is not every day you see a monkey on the road.
“My partner and his brother felt awful when we later found out he had died.
“Darren and his brother contacted the zoo immediately after seeing the monkey but there was no answer so they contacted the police to inform them.”
A Belfast City Council spokesman revealed yesterday the monkey died after being hit by a car.
He added: “A monkey escaped from Belfast Zoo and was being tracked by keepers. Unfortunately it got on to the M2 motorway and was clipped by a car.
“It was injured and taken to be examined by the vet, but unfortunately died. Staff are devastated by the loss.”
Belfast Zoo is investigating how the animal got out, as its spider monkey population is kept on an island surrounded by water and “they don’t normally swim”.
A spokeswoman said: “This is the first time this has happened.
“It’s a relatively new monkey being introduced. We are still investigating how he escaped as there is a moat around the island.”
“We want to thank the PSNI and members of the public for their assistance.”
This is not the first time monkeys have escaped the zoo.
Two lion-tailed macaques got out of their enclosure in March 2015, but both were eventually traced after a three-day hunt.
And another primate was found at Belfast Castle the following month.
Spider monkeys, which originate in Colombia, have been with the zoo for some time.
One of the largest of the New World primates, they have long limbs, thumb-less hands and a prehensile tail for swinging from trees.
Destruction of their habitat and hunting has put them under threat and 300 live in zoos around the world.
It was being tracked but got on the motorway & was clipped by a car BELFAST CITY COUNCIL SPOKESMAN YESTERDAY