Escaped Monkey Eludes Dutch Safari Park for Nearly a Month

A male crested mangabey that escaped from Safaripark Beekse Bergen in the Netherlands nearly a month ago is still on the loose, periodically spotted but successfully evading all capture attempts, park officials confirmed on Monday.

The monkey escaped around June 20 by swimming across a moat surrounding its island enclosure — a feat that park staff had believed was impossible for the species. Since then, the animal has been roaming the forested area around Esbeek, a village a few kilometers from the park near the Belgian border.

A Clever Escapee

The crested mangabey, a primate species native to tropical Africa, shares its enclosure with gorillas at the park in Hilvarenbeek, North Brabant province. Biologist Stijn Berger told Omroep Brabant that the monkeys had lived there for years without incident. “But if they really jump once and swim across the moat, then they’re free,” Berger said. “They don’t like swimming, but that doesn’t mean they can’t.”

According to VRT NWS, the park initially did not believe the moat could be crossed by the species. The monkey first spent several days hiding in tall trees within the park before venturing beyond its boundaries. Berger explained that the animals are remarkably agile: “Of course you want to prevent that, but they are so fast and agile. If such a monkey goes through the trees, he can get out of the park more easily than we can.”

The crested mangabey is easily identified by the distinctive crest on its head, which indicates its mood — upright when neutral and flattened back when aggressive, accompanied by low growling. The species is primarily found in the forests of tropical Africa, making the Dutch summer an unexpectedly suitable environment for the fugitive.

Sightings and Capture Efforts

The monkey has been spotted periodically in the Esbeek area, confirming it remains alive and healthy. “He is seen occasionally, so he is alive,” a park spokesperson told Het Laatste Nieuws. “He stays a bit in that area.”

Park staff have deployed a range of capture methods, including trap cages baited with food, drones equipped with thermal cameras, and keepers responding to sighting reports. However, the dense forest foliage makes the animal difficult to spot, and the monkey is remarkably fast. Adding to the challenge, the animal recognizes its keepers even when they are in civilian clothes.

“When we get a report, we go after him,” the spokesperson explained. “But he also recognizes the keepers in civilian clothes and that they walk more purposefully or searchingly.”

Thriving in the Wild

Summer conditions have worked in the monkey’s favor. The crested mangabey’s natural diet consists of fruit, seeds, insects, and tree bark — all abundantly available in the Dutch summer forest. “Everything that can currently be found in nature, so he can live perfectly on what’s in the forest,” the spokesperson said. “And it’s not cold outside either.”

This abundance of natural food means the monkey has little incentive to approach the trap cages. “Such a trap cage only works if he’s hungry,” the spokesperson noted. “That makes it somewhat challenging.”

Berger confirmed the animal poses no danger to humans or pets, noting that the park would have responded very differently to a more dangerous escapee. “Then it would never have taken so long, of course,” he said. “This is a monkey that doesn’t harm anything or anyone.”

Previous Escapes and Future Outlook

This is not the first escape from Beekse Bergen in 2026. In May, a pregnant cheetah escaped from its enclosure, forcing the park to close for several hours before a veterinarian sedated the animal. The back-to-back incidents have raised questions about enclosure security at one of the Netherlands’ largest safari parks.

Park officials anticipate the search for the crested mangabey could continue for several more weeks. They have asked the public to report sightings via a phone number on the park’s website and advised against attempting to approach or capture the animal themselves. The park has also noted that the monkey’s familiarity with its keepers — recognizing them even in plain clothes — adds an unusual layer of difficulty to the operation.

The prolonged escape has attracted significant media attention in both the Netherlands and neighboring Belgium, given the monkey’s proximity to the Belgian border. The story has resonated with the public, with many online commenters expressing sympathy for the animal’s bid for freedom.

Questions remain about whether the monkey will survive when winter arrives and what enclosure modifications Beekse Bergen might implement following two escapes in as many months. The assumption that moats were sufficient barriers for these primates has been proven wrong, and the park may need to reconsider its enclosure designs. For now, however, the crested mangabey continues to enjoy an unexpected summer freedom in the forests of North Brabant, living on nature’s bounty while keepers watch and wait.