A lion-tailed macaque monkey has escaped from his enclosure at Howletts near Canterbury.

He had climbed a tree at the wild animal park in Bekesbourne from where keepers were trying coax him down on Wednesday.

The young primate escaped when keepers entered the enclosure to vaccinate the macaques.

Spokesman Jo-Anne East said: "He's obviously quite scared, but the last we know is that he was slowly climbing back down."

The animal was recaptured on Thursday and safely returned to its enclosure.

Macaques are native to south India and are characterised by their white manes.

Others escapes from Howletts include a tiger that was shot dead after breaking free from its enclosure in December 2001.

And in February 2009, a pack of eight wild hunting dogs called dholes escaped from the park.

Seven of the animals had to be shot, while another died after being hit by a train near Bekesbourne.