Escaped Japanese Macaque moved to Edinburgh Zoo after struggling to settle back in at Highland Wildlife Park

A monkey that went on the run from a wildlife park has been moved to another zoo after struggling to settle back with park family.

Honshu, a seven-year-old Japanese macaque, set off a five day hunt after escaping from the Highland Wildlife Park in January.

The monkey quickly stole hearts around the world with locals in the area posting pictures and videos of the escapee stopping for a quick bite at their garden birdfeeders before continuing his adventures.

He was eventually captured after drone footage helped experts locate him and bring him back to the park, however after struggling to settle back in with his family he has been moved to Edinburgh Zoo.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which operates both parks, moved Honshu to the capital with three males from his troop to give him a “fresh start” after his time on the run.

Darren McGarry, head of living collections at RZSS, said: “Primate group dynamics can be very complex, especially in a situation like this where an individual is separated from the troop for an extended period of time”.

He added that Honshu is at the age when macaques disperse or move away so it would have been difficult to reintroduce him to his wider family at the park.

The experts at the park have instead opted to create a “new, mini-troop for him” comprised of three other male macaques of similar age.

The monkeys are said to have “settled in well together” and are set to be moved to their new home at the zoo.

After their big move, the monkeys will stay indoors for the first few days before being able to explore the outdoor area of their new enclosure, opposite the zoo’s red river hogs.

Keith Gilchrist, living collections operations manager at Highland Wildlife Park, said, “We were amazed by the level of interest in Honshu’s escape from across the globe but our only priority throughout the process was to secure his safe return.

“I’m glad to say that thanks largely to the expertise of the team involved in his recapture, as well as a groundswell of support from the local community, we were able to do just that. Now it’s time for Honshu’s next chapter.”