Lion-tailed macaques now named Bonnie and Clyde escaped from their enclosure at the zoo yesterday.

An animal has been located in the search for a pair of monkeys who had been on the run from Belfast Zoo since Wednesday morning.

Lion-tailed macaques now named Bonnie and Clyde escaped from their enclosure at the zoo yesterday. The zoo’s search team has recovered just one of the animals.

Zookeepers and the Northern Ireland Fire service have been scouring the zoo and its surrounding areas in search for the dastardly pair since yesterday.

A spokesperson from Belfast Zoo said: “One of the two lion-tailed macaques that escaped from Belfast Zoo yesterday has been returned to the zoo site.

"The macaque was found in a nearby location and was returned to the zoo by the zoo vet, keepers and the Northern Ireland Fire Service.

"There are continued sightings of the other macaque and staff are continuing to monitor the locations and track the movements of the animal. We are confident that the remaining macaque will soon be found and returned to the zoo,” she said.

The adventurous duo were spotted by a man walking his dog near Antrim Road yesterday afternoon.

Belfast Zoo has urged members of the public not to approach the remaining macaque yet to be located.

"If anyone sees the animal we would ask them to contact the zoo immediately and not attempt to approach or catch the animal,” a spokesperson said.

"Sightings can be reported to the zoo team by calling 028 9077 6277 or during out of hours, call the zoo team on 077 9627 7414."

This is not the first time a macaque has gone on the run from the zoo and in 2013 a search was on for monkey Roxy who went AWOL for more than a week.

A Colobus monkey named Mojo also ditched the zoo for a while in 2005 before being spotted by eagle-eyed locals. He was soon carted back home following his brisk adventure.

Online Editors