Monkeys, raccoon dogs and giant rodent among 12 animals to escape from Irish zoos

Wild animals have escaped from captivity in Irish zoos 12 times in the past three years – some of which were never recaptured.

Two Japanese raccoon dogs, three bison, the world’s largest rodent, and a variety of endangered monkeys were among the animals that made a break for freedom during the period.

A critically endangered citron-crested cockatoo – one of as few as 500 left in the world – also fled Dublin Zoo in May 2022 and was never seen again.

In March of the same year, visitors to Tayto Park in Co Meath were forced to shelter in a gift shop after three bison broke out of their enclosure and were spotted beside one of the theme park rides.

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Last year, a “code red” was declared at Fota Wildlife Park when an agile gibbon named Conor escaped from his enclosure, and a member of the zoo’s gun team was deployed.

The ape entered the vicinity of the lions and tigers at Fota before making his way to the perimeter fence, but was netted by zoo staff before he could go any further, bringing his daring escape to an end.

A black and white ruffed lemur also escaped at Fota last year after she was “squabbling” with two other females. She pushed through a fence and made it off her island despite getting shocked. Ultimately, she was lured back to her enclosure by rangers.

Wild Encounters mini-zoo in Limerick agreed to accommodate two tanuki or Japanese raccoon dogs for the ISPCA in 2021, but they managed to break out of a temporary enclosure on their first night there.

“We have been searching the site but so far have not found signs of them, but will continue looking,” the zoo told the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in an email.

Staff at the zoo said it was “unlikely” that the pair were neutered, and the NPWS has no record indicating that the animals were ever recaptured.

In 2022, a capybara – the world’s largest rodent – also escaped at Wild Encounters, exiting through a gate that had “become unsecured”. Following an extensive search of the zoo, staff concluded that “he is somewhere off the premises” and continued their search “further afield”.

At Dublin Zoo, a male Sulawesi crested macaque fled its habitat following “some social tension in the group”, the zoo told the NPWS. “We had tried to integrate four young males into the group earlier that day, which most likely triggered the incident,” it said.

Gardaí had to be called as the ape sat in a tall tree close to the perimeter fence, “unfortunately in plain sight of the public, who were gathered outside the zoo in the Phoenix Park”, the zoo added.

They managed to trap the macaque without sedation after a standoff that lasted around two hours.

Other escapees included a lemur and a spider monkey named Pinky at Fota Wildlife Park, two more Sulawesi crested macaques at Dublin Zoo, and a European stork that flew away from Tayto Park in June 2021.

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