- Hunt for the elusive escaped primate in Salem near Lake Constance
There's been some buzz about a rogue primate hailing from the Salem Affenberg, making waves in the Lake Constance region. Its whereabouts remain elusive. It was spotted on a Friday morning in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen (Bodenseekreis), close to the B31 federal road.
Rumor has it that the monkey hopped from branch to branch. Although escapes from the park boundaries are unusual for Barbary macaques, they can occur if a tree tumbles onto the fence during a storm, as park director Roland Hilgartner explained. He speculates that the fugitive may have used a tiny space between the branch canopies inside and outside the enclosure for his getaway. "Given their athleticism, they can leap across such gaps," he noted.
The structure of the fence is intended to prevent escapes yet allows for re-entry from the outside. Animals have a tendency to return due to the strong urge to reunite with their group in familiar surroundings, Hilgartner added. However, it's also plausible that the monkey could be surviving on its own in the wild at this time. The area offers ample vegetation for consumption, and insects are a natural source of food. Moreover, the vegetation and wildlife on either side of the fence are similar, according to Hilgartner. "Perhaps he'll find an abandoned apple or two in the orchards," he suggested. Only in winter might extra sustenance be necessary, Hilgartner clarified.
Barbary macaques are listed on the IUCN Red List. On Friday, local law enforcement and Affenberg staff attempted to coax the young monkey down from a tree with food, but it scampered into a more extensive wooded area. These gray-brown primates originated from the mountainous regions of Morocco and Algeria and are estimated to number fewer than 8,000 globally. Approximately 200 reside on a 20-hectare forested plot at the Affenberg, offering visitors a close encounter with them.
The park director's curiosity about the monkey's choice of escape route led him to explore the possibility of using the tiny gaps between the tree canopies. Despite the elusive nature of the monkey, the curiosity among locals about its whereabouts and actions continues to grow.
