Mykel the Black-and-White Colobus Found and Recaptured After Escaping Zoo in April
SINGAPORE – Mykel, a 14-year-old male African monkey of the black-and-white colobus species, was recaptured on Nov 1, 2024, after escaping from the Singapore Zoo’s Primate Kingdom exhibit in April 2024. Mykel had fled due to changes in the social dynamics of his troop and used a connecting pole to cross the perimeter fence at the zoo.
After his escape, the Mandai Wildlife Group conducted an extensive search but was unable to locate the primate. Mykel was spotted at Villa Verde Park in Choa Chu Kang, around 3 km away from the zoo, on Oct 31, 2024. The next day, a team from Mandai, along with personnel from NParks and the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), was deployed to recapture him.
The efforts to capture Mykel involved the use of a crane and a tranquiliser dart, which successfully sedated the monkey, allowing rescuers to bring him down from the trees and place him in a crate. Mykel was later transported back to the zoo, where he will undergo a health check. Fortunately, the animal appears to be in good physical condition after his six-month escape.
The zoo has since addressed the escape route by implementing fixes to prevent future incidents. Additionally, social cohesion within Mykel’s troop has been stabilised to ensure the well-being of the animals.
This incident comes after several other wild animals have been sighted in urban areas of Singapore, including a rare silvered langur in Clementi Woods Park and a Malayan tapir in Punggol Park Connector in 2023.
