A new resident has arrived at the Kyiv Zoo — a forest macaque that volunteers rescued in Hostomel after escaping from its owners, where it was kept as a pet.
This is reported by Kyiv24
How the macaque ended up at the zoo
The macaque ran through the streets of Hostomel for several days until it was noticed by concerned residents and zoo volunteers. The animal was kept at home for entertainment, but as it grew older, its natural behavior began to manifest, which is significantly different from what is typically seen in videos online.
“The little monkey was kept for fun, but then it grew up and started to exhibit natural behavior, which usually drastically differs from the cute videos on the Internet,” zoo staff noted.
Species characteristics and the animal’s condition
Forest macaques (mangabeys) are the only species of macaques without tails, native to northern Africa. Males reach a height of 75–80 cm and weigh between 13–15 kg. The rescued monkey was taken to the Kyiv Zoo veterinary hospital, where it underwent necessary examinations and is currently under a 30-day quarantine.
The animal will undergo treatment, rehabilitation, and adaptation to new conditions. The zoo emphasizes that keeping wild animals in domestic settings leads to serious health and behavioral issues.
“Ahead lies treatment and a long process of rehabilitation and adaptation. After all, deep stress is perhaps the least of the problems faced by the Hostomel macaque after inappropriate conditions of care, maintenance, and feeding. In conclusion, we reiterate: do not keep wild animals at home!” the zoo urged.