Group of escaped monkeys on the loose in western Germany

A group of rhesus macaque monkeys has escaped in the town of Witten in western Germany.

The highly intelligent but shy animals are presumed to have scraped mortar out of brick wall at an animal sanctuary, enabling them to break out, a police spokesman said.

The animals have not yet been recaptured as of Thursday afternoon. The broadcaster WDR reported that the group consists of six so-called temple monkeys.

They had been housed in the sanctuary for animal welfare reasons. They are said to pose no danger to the public, so the local emergency services are not actively searching for them.

“Anyone who sees a monkey in their garden can, however, contact the police or the fire brigade,” said the police spokesman. Details will be passed on to the those responsible, who will ensure the animals are caught, he said.