Vadodara: A male Rhesus macaque has become a major challenge for officials at Sayajibaug Zoo, evading capture for nearly five months despite repeated rescue attempts by zoo staff, forest teams and wildlife experts.

The monkey, barely one-and-a-half feet tall, has repeatedly escaped traps laid across the Sayajibaug garden area and continues to roam freely inside the premises. Officials intensified efforts after the macaque allegedly attacked and injured a six-year-old boy recently.

Zoo officials said the animal has outsmarted multiple trap cages and even escaped after being tranquilised near the Vishwamitri River ravines. Sedative-laced fruits also failed to subdue it.

“We placed several traps after the attack, but the monkey is extremely smart and avoids them,” said zoo official Pratyush Patankar.

In one unusual attempt, authorities used a female rhesus macaque as bait, as the male monkey is known to stay close to her enclosure. “He came near the cage but quickly realised it was a trap and disappeared,” Patankar said.

Zoo authorities have now roped in veterinary doctors and wildlife experts to devise a fresh strategy to capture the elusive monkey. DeshGujarat