Monkeys armed with weapons including knives and a chainsaw are said to be on the prowl in Knowsley Safari Park.

Workers at the popular Merseyside attraction claimed they spotted the troop carrying tools – with keepers suspicious the baboons were being armed ‘for a laugh’ by visitors hoping they would then wreak havoc with other people’s cars.

Others speculate the cheeky animals have been pinching them from workers’ toolboxes when they’ve stopped in their enclosure.

The baboons have been known to swarm cars entering the safari park and in some cases have ripped off windscreen wipers and wing mirrors.

A mechanic in nearby Sale told The Sunday Times: ‘I’ve had two customers this year who became victims of those baboons.

‘The kids start chirping up saying they want monkeys all over the car, and the next thing you know, you’re driving home with no registration plate.’

One park worker said: ‘The baboons have been found with knives and screwdrivers. I do wonder if it’s some of the guests handing them out.’

The safari park reopened after its enforced coronavirus shutdown on June 15 but the 550-acre park had long argued it should have been allowed to open its gates sooner.

Making a ‘big cats v big macs’ argument it questioned why changes to Covid-19 lockdown allowed drivers to use fast-food drive-thrus but not visit the park.

A spokeswoman said being remaining closed while the restaurants were allowed to reopen ‘didn’t make sense’.

‘People don’t have to get out of their vehicles.’

A spokesman for the park told the Times that armed apes could be an urban myth, saying: ‘We believe many of these stories have grown in exaggeration as they’ve been retold, with embellishment to make the objects that are sometimes found in the enclosure seem more exciting and unbelievable.’

Source:
courtesy of METRO

by Chris Caulfield

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