THERE were calls last night for a review of the housing of animals at Belfast Zoo after an escaped monkey died after being hit by a car.
Alliance councillor Michael Long said an assessment by Belfast City Council - which has responsibility for the zoo - should be "carried out urgently" following the animal's death.
Video footage emerged over the weekend of the male spider monkey making his way along the Antrim Road in north Belfast. He is thought to have escaped from Belfast Zoo around 6pm on Saturday.
The video clip of the animal walking close to a bus stop was posted on social media, with the caption "that awkward moment when you’re in traffic and a monkey casually saunters down the street".
However, Belfast City Council later confirmed that the animal had died. It is understood he was "clipped by a car" on the M2.
Zoo keepers had been tracking the monkey before the accident and he was taken back for treatment, but died shortly afterwards.
Belfast City Council said an investigation had been launched into how the monkey escaped its enclosure.
"We are sorry to announce that a spider monkey, which escaped from Belfast Zoo on Saturday night has died," a spokesman said.
"We are currently investigating how the escape occurred from the monkey island on which the animals are kept.
"The monkey was being tracked by keepers when the accident occurred and despite being quickly taken back to the zoo for veterinary assistance died shortly afterwards.
The spokesman also said that staff at the zoo were "devastated by the loss".
He added: "This is the first time this has happened.
"It's a relatively new monkey being introduced. We are still investigating how he escaped as there is a moat around the island."
But Alliance councillor Michael Long last night called for a review of how animals are housed.
"Belfast City Council has a duty of care to look after all the animals at Belfast Zoo," he said.
"Therefore, a review of security in relation to the housing of animals at the zoo needs carried out urgently, particularly as monkeys have previously escaped from there in the past few years.
"Belfast Zoo carries out good work in terms of conservation and taking part in breeding programmes to help protect many species but it is not good enough to have animals escaping and unfortunately subsequently killed."
