SARIKEI: Firefighters here recaptured a pet macaque on Thursday, putting an end to the animal’s bout of freedom since National Day on Monday.

Having failed to recapture the seven-year-old primate named Zack on his own, the owner was forced to turn to firefighters for help.

After receiving a call from the owner around 5pm on Thursday, a team of seven firefighters went to the scene at Rentap Road to catch the macaque.

Following a 30-minute game of chase around the residential area, the firefighters managed to corner Zack at a nearby construction site.

During his short-lived time on the run, Zack is said to have been a nuisance to residents in the area.

It is understood that he damaged property and crops.

Local residents also said that Zack acted aggressively to avoid being recaptured.

Under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998, macaques and all primates are classified as protected wildlife.

It is illegal to hunt, kill, keep, sell or eat protected wildlife without a license from the controller of Wild Life Sarawak, with a penalty of one year in prison and a fine of RM10,000.