"He's wearing fur"

Police search for escaped Barbary macaques

A Barbary macaque like this enjoyed a few hours in freedom.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com)

A lively male Barbary macaque that escaped from its enclosure in Salem, Germany, just over the border in Vorarlberg, triggered a major search operation. The animal was caught safe and sound on Saturday. 

The monkey named "L1" was using two closely spaced treetops in his enclosure in Salem. One tree was part of the enclosure, but the other was already on the other side of the fence. "L1" took advantage of this situation and started his adventure in freedom. 

"Athletic stature"
Drivers then spotted the monkey at the Oberuhldingen junction of the B31. A team from the enclosure moved out to lure the animal with food - but was unsuccessful. The primate eventually disappeared into a large wooded area. The German police promptly launched a manhunt: they described the fugitive as being around 70 to 90 centimetres tall, "of athletic build and wearing fur". He also had the appearance of a Barbary macaque.  

Anyone who sees the animal should inform the authorities and not try to catch the monkey themselves. On Saturday, "L1" was seen again, this time in an apple tree near the Birnau monastery. A well-aimed shot with a tranquillizer gun finally put an end to the escape. 

Incidentally, this was not the first time that "L1" had escaped. However, its escape route across the treetops has since been closed and the branches cut.