Marwell Zoo lockdown ‘panic’ as two macaque monkeys escape their enclosure

THIS is the bananas moment two macaques broke out of their enclosure and gave keepers the slip as the zoo was placed on "lockdown panic".

Visitors at Marwell Zoo in Hampshire were locked inside shops and the reptile house while keepers tried to locate the primates this afternoon.

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Emergency procedures were reportedly put in place but the situation is now "under control".

Pictures shared on shared on social media show one monkey on top of an enclosure at the wildlife park.

Visitors to the zoo have been posting on social media about the drama.

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@Katie_Sallows said: "Monkeys have escaped at #MarwellZoo. currently hiding out with the giraffes!"

@hollylightly wrote: "Macaques on the loose at Marwell zoo..."

While @Kevchlo said: "Currently on lockdown in marwell zoo. All the monkeys have escaped".

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The zoo tweeted said: "At around 12.40pm two of our adult Sulawesi- crested macaques escaped from their island enclosure.

"Zoo guests and staff were asked to remain indoors while our trained keepers dealt with the situation.

"The two macaques were returned to their home within 10 minutes.

"Guests were asked to remain indoors for a further 15-20 minutes while Keepers investigated a report from a member of the public that another macaque had been spotted outside its enclosure.

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"It was quickly established that a third macaque had not escaped.

"We are grateful for the way in which our guests cooperated and for thank them for their understanding.

"Our thanks to our Animal Management team who responded swiftly and carried out a model response.

"The two macaques have rejoined the rest of the family and all five will remain in the indoor part of their enclosure until a full investigation has been carried out.

"Our vet team has carried out checks and we are happy to report that the animals came to no harm.

"The zoo remains open as usual."

In October, rampaging 29 stone gorilla Kumbuka escaped through two doors and downed five litres of squash at London Zoo before being caught.

And in May, a female zookeeper was mauled to death by a tiger at Hamerton zoo in Cambridgeshire.