***UPDATE: The monkey has been spotted in the Omotesando area.***
Police in Tokyo are on the lookout for a wild monkey on the loose in the Shibuya area. The monkey -- identified as a Japanese macaque -- was spotted inside Shibuya station this morning (August 20), much to the surprise of morning commuters. (Watch an NNN news report.)
According to the Tokyu Corporation, which operates the Tokyu Toyoko line at Shibuya station, a security officer spotted the monkey climbing around inside the station at 9:45 AM. When the monkey perched itself on a sign, police and station employees tried unsuccessfully to trap it with nets.
After an hours-long standoff, the monkey made a run for it through the crowded station. Police and curious onlookers took chase, but the monkey eluded them by crossing a busy street and climbing up along the Yamanote line tracks. Its whereabouts are now unknown.
City officials say there has been a rise in Tokyo-area monkey sightings in recent weeks. A monkey was spotted in Koganei on August 12, and sightings were reported at three locations in Setagaya ward on August 18.
[Source: Yahoo!]
ADDED: At least one eyewitness captured the chaotic scene on cellphone video...
...and here's some pretty amazing eyewitness video of the panic that ensues when the monkey makes a run for it...
...and AP has some clean, raw footage as well...
elle
Of all the places it could have gone, the poor thing had to choose the busiest and most densely populated spot in Tokyo! Ganbatte saru-chan!
[]?!
Koganei. Setagaya. Shibuya. Next stop: Shinjuku.
[]Gabe
Why is something so natural as a wild animal treated with such awe when it crosses the path of man? Have we become that distant to nature?
[]Mark
It's not real. It was a man in a monkey suit. Like that fake bigfoot "captured" in the US. The "macaque" was able to escape because it ran into a men's toilet, removed the costume, and exited, blending into the crowd.
[]Alex
This is just really weird. Very funny though :-)
[]Joaquin Menchaca
I was there in Shibuya that morning coming from Yokohama. I was so tired, I didn't wait around for the big showdown. It was the funniest thing I have ever seen.
[]Amalia
omg wow
[]I mean ITS JUST A MONKEY
haven't these people went to a zoo before?
Erin
I am sure it was funny to some but the Macaque was stressed and it is a good thing they caught it, although it could have belonged to someone and either escaped or was let out on purpose and is now hopefully surviving in the mountains of Japan. A cornered Macaque is not a happy friendly monkey!
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