Banana coaxes monkey home

Minty the Capuchin monkey was on the run for more than a week. Photo / NZPA

A banana has proved too tempting for Minty the monkey, who is back in captivity after five days on the loose.

The Capuchin monkey escaped her enclosure at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, on the outskirts of Christchurch, after falling into the moat at the front of her enclosure and making her way across it rather than heading back.

Willowbank park manager Jeremy Maguire said she had holed up nearby and staff last night set a trap.

"Basically it was a big box with a door that was on a trigger mechanism, which was a hook inside that had a banana in it," he told NZPA.

"When she pulled the banana it tripped the door and closed it behind her.

"The old banana on the hook trick," he said.

Minty appeared pleased to be home and, other than being hungry and cold, was in good condition.

She would be kept separate from her monkey mates until keepers were sure she was okay "and we're all happy that she's not going to pull the same stunt".

Monkeys had good-sized brains so it was possible she remembered how she escaped, Mr Macguire said.

However, he doubted she would try again.

"I think the whole situation was very much an accident and put her through a lot of stress, so I don't think she'd want to do the same thing again," he said.

Minty spent three days on the run last year when she took to the streets of Christchurch during a trip to the vet.

- NZPA