Honshu, a runaway macaque from the Highland Wildlife Park, was finally caught after a five-day adventure fueled by his love for food—specifically, Yorkshire pudding. Stephanie Bunyan discovered him in her garden after putting out some leftovers, which he devoured overnight.
While enjoying her morning coffee, Bunyan spotted Honshu peering into her window around 10 a.m. Unable to resist the urge to capture the moment, she promptly contacted the park’s monkey hotline. Within minutes, drone operators and park keepers arrived to assist in the search. By this time, Honshu was playfully jumping on her sunroom roof, making it challenging to tranquilize him.
After a few attempts, the rangers successfully sedated Honshu, and he was whisked away for examination. The macaque had roamed about four miles from the park, often hiding in dense vegetation, which made thermal drones essential for tracking him.
Ben Harrower, who coordinated the search with thermal technology, noted the effectiveness of the drones in the wooded areas. Despite poor weather hampering previous efforts, they successfully tracked Honshu, allowing the rangers to capture him.
Local residents had mixed experiences with Honshu. Carl Nagle, who was awakened by his daughter to find the monkey in their garden, noted the unexpected media attention surrounding the escapade. “Everyone can rally around a missing monkey,” his partner, Tina, remarked, highlighting the lightheartedness of the situation amidst often grim news.
Local businesses seized the opportunity for some fun, creating advertisements featuring Honshu to capitalize on the simian spectacle. Nagle’s phone buzzed with media inquiries as interest in the story soared.
In the end, Honshu’s escapade not only entertained the community but also reminded everyone of the joy a little mischief can bring.
