Monkey that escaped from Beekse Bergen continues to outsmart everyone

©Joshua J. Cotten

A little less than a month after his escape, the male crested mangabey from Beekse Bergen Safari Park is still roaming free in the Esbeek area. According to the park, the monkey is still spotted regularly, but he has so far eluded capture.

The spokeswoman emphasizes that the animal appears to be healthy. “He’s spotted every now and then, so he’s alive,” she says. Reports are coming mainly from the wooded area around Esbeek, near Hilvarenbeek and the safari park itself. Since the crested mangabey feeds on fruit, seeds, insects, and tree bark, he’s able to fend for himself just fine in the wild for now. The mild weather is working in his favor.

Trap cages and treats

To locate the monkey, Beekse Bergen set out capture cages baited with food and also conducted searches using drones and thermal cameras. So far, these efforts have yielded little results. The animal is difficult to spot in a densely forested area, and a capture cage only works if the monkey is hungry. Moreover, he will eventually have to be sedated, which is difficult with a fast and shy animal. The keepers also continue to search as soon as a report comes in. However, this is proving to be no easy task, as the monkey seems to recognize staff members in plain clothes and is often already gone before they can approach him. The park anticipates that the search could take weeks.

The escape took place more than three weeks ago. Since then, Beekse Bergen has been warning people not to approach the monkey themselves, but to report sightings via the phone number listed on the website. The crested mangabey is harmless to people and pets, but the park naturally wants to safely recover the animal as soon as possible.

©Joshua J. Cotten - illustrative image