By
Maheen Senanayake
The US Embassy in Colombo had to deal with an unprecedented `monkey’ situation its Marine guards were not trained to handle when a common or garden rilawa entered its highly fortified compound at Kollupitiya a few days ago and could not be ejected. The story even made the Washington Post..
The drama began on Dec. 20 when an e-mail went out to employees telling them that the ground-floor doors were locked because a monkey was trapped in the building and instructing them to use alternate exits.
In a 48 hour saga, Marine guards at the embassy and local staff tried their best to capture the monkey which sought refuge within the maze like ventilation and airconditioning duct network. Finally, ace hunter Dr. Tharaka Prasad of the Wild Life Conservation Department was called in to help.
A veteran of many such rescues including the Wasgamuwa tusker and the crocodile of Nilwala, Prasad matched cunning and behavioural knowledge of the primate to ingeniously trap the monkey close to the exhaust outlet and get him within sight and range of his tranquilizer gun.
Despite being hit by the dart, the monkey broke free as eager staff at the embassy ignored Prasad’s call to hold back attempts to grab it. However, knowing the effect of the dart, the wild life veterinarian tracked the monkey for 15 minutes until the tranquilizer took effect.
“It is definitely an animal that has broken away from a home. Someone had tried to domesticate it, ” he told the Sunday Island. “We are holding him at the Bellanwila-Attidiya range and he’ll be released into a park where there are no bungalows.”
Prasad estimated the monkey to be 4-5 years old and well. Two days earlier, a similar emergency call from the Galle Face hotel had been received by the Wildlife Department. It is believed it may have very well been the same intruder.
The rilawa (toque macaque) is a reddish-brown-coloured primate endemic to Sri Lanka. It is named for toque-shaped whorl of hair on its head, rather like the bonnet of the related bonnet macaque.
It lives in troops, sometimes numbering up to 20, and has developed into three subspecies. Troops of the toque macaque are a common sight in the Cultural Triangle, where many ancient temples are situated, hence earning them the nickname “temple monkey”.
Chris Hensman, acting director of the State Department Press Office, confirmed the visit, explaining that the unexpected guest had been in the building’s ventilation system. “The visitor eventually departed the building safely and unharmed after a 24-hour adventure,” he said. “We thank the Sri Lanka Wildlife Department for their help to humanely resolve this issue.COURTESY:SUNDAY ISLAND