Monkey escapes its cage at zoo in Devon sparking visitor lockdown as staff track down the rogue primate

Visitors to a zoo were placed into lockdown because of an escaped monkey.

Dozens of people were isolated indoors at Paignton Zoo, Devon, after the mammal managed to escape its cage.

A major hunt was launched under a ‘code red’ earlier today to find the runaway primate, who was eventually isolated amongst the rhinos.

Members of the public were then released and able to roam other areas freely as the rhino area was sealed off – and a rescue effort was launched.

The escapee was eventually returned to its enclosure and the zoo fully re-opened.

Visitors to Paignton Zoo in Devon were put into lockdown after a monkey escaped from its cage in  ‘code-red’ incident

People were told to stay inside during the hunt, before the primate was eventually isolated in the rhino area

One visitor said: ‘I am currently at Paignton Zoo and they have announced a code red. Staff are saying a large animal has escaped – which they’ve confirmed was a monkey that has escaped.

‘All guests have had to be locked into indoor areas. They have isolated it into the rhino area and so we are allowed out of buildings now but not allowed near the rhino area.’

Another visit caught up in the escape said: ‘At Paignton Zoo and we’ve all been turfed into the restaurant because an animal has escaped.

‘It’s a monkey.’

The zoo is home to around 2000 animals from nearly 300 species

The zoo is home to around 2,000 animals representing nearly 300 species, and is known for its conservation and breeding programs.

Paignton Zoo said in a statement: ‘Earlier today, staff at Paignton Zoo had to attend to an incident involving an escaped monkey.

‘As a precautionary measure, zoo visitors were evacuated from the area in accordance with our well-rehearsed escaped animal procedure and the animal was re-captured without incident shortly after the alert was raised.

‘We are currently investigating how this incident occurred and would like to thank everyone who was at the zoo this morning for their patience and co-operation.’