TV vet Scott Miller has shared behind-the-scenes footage of the recapture of Highland Wildlife Park’s escapee monkey Honshu.
The Japanese macaque fled his enclosure in the early hours of January 28, sparking a widespread search operation in the Kincraig area.
This Morning’s resident vet Dr Scott Miller accompanied Highland Wildlife Park operations manager Keith Gilchrist and his team on their mission to safely recapture Honshu.
In a new YouTube video, Dr Miller emphasised the “great technology” used to track the macaque including drones with thermal imaging and heat-seeking binoculars.
He said: “We’re using drones to try and find him. There’s heat-seeking binoculars too.
“There’s lots of great tech and lots of amazing people working on this.
“They’re just hoping that although they have got people with dart guns ready, the terrain’s pretty difficult to navigate. So they’re hoping he might just come back.”
Special technology assisted the search
The thrilling video shows how the team chose to “divide and conquer” as their tactic to capture the monkey.
A specialist drone operator, Ben, volunteered alongside the staff to assist in the search.
Ben managed to track Honshu’s location for 45 minutes.
However, due to the macaque being surrounded by dense forest, it was impossible for the team to use the tranquiliser gun effectively.
In February, the P&J created a timeline featuring Honshu’s route and the efforts it took to catch him.
Dr Miller featured a segment talking about the ‘whistle and feed’ tactic used to try and lure out Honshu.
Keith said: “The whole troupe of macaques have been conditioned to come running for food when they hear us blowing a whistle at certain times of the day.
“It’s called a recall. So if anything’s ever going on, we can quickly get them inside.
“We’ve been relying on that a bit when there’s been sightings close by. We’ll do a whistle and feed in the hopes that he’s able to hear it and that condition kicks in and brings him home.”
The video features the team using thermal imaging binoculars as they try to spot the missing macaque.
Despite seeing red squirrels, herons and pigeons, Honshu was nowhere to be found.
The team went back to the Highland Wildlife Park to plan their next move.
Upon their arrival, Keith received a phone call with the whole team waiting in anticipation. He then announced that Honshu had been sighted.
The capture
Dr Scott Miller narrates: “This is the first chance the team has to use the tranquiliser dart as Honshu is in a safe enclosed area of a local garden helping himself to a bird feeder.”
Drones and thermal imaging cameras were used to help the specialist darting team at Honshu’s location.
Drone footage and CCTV show Honshu’s movement around the garden.
An intense build-up happened as the tranquiliser team prepared to shoot and Honshu is then finally caught after days of searching.
In the end, it was a Yorkshire pudding left in an Insh garden that lured Honshu out from hiding.
Honshu was checked over by the team and was found to be in great health.
At the end of the video, Dr Miller said: “It’s a real coordinated team effort. It was good and with a great result. He’s back and he’s safe.”
Having caused “too much trouble” in the Highlands, keepers opted to move Honshu and a few members of his former troop to Edinburgh Zoo to facilitate the creation of a new bachelor group.
The full video on Dr Scott Miller’s channel Rescue Vet can be watched here.
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