In the Czech city of Decin, located on the border with Saxony, a group of crested monkeys has escaped from the local zoo.
A zoo representative reported that two macaques were successfully captured, but six others were still on the loose as of Tuesday afternoon. The public has been urged not to attempt to catch the primates themselves, as they possess strong teeth and could be dangerous, as stated in the announcement.
The police have arrested a suspect who is accused of breaking into the zoo at around 9 p.m. on Monday and damaging the electric fence surrounding the crested monkey enclosure. The 42-year-old man was apprehended while attempting to break into a nearby tourist pub, according to the CTK agency. A cannabis test yielded a positive result. The zoo has been closed to visitors.
It is expected that the monkeys may return to their enclosure on their own if they become hungry. Crested monkeys originate from Indonesia and are diurnal inhabitants of tropical forests. They are skilled climbers, spending a significant portion of their lives in trees. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies this species as critically endangered.
