Monkey dies during rescue at Islamabad airport

ISLAMABAD:

A monkey spotted at the terminal building of the New Islamabad International Airport died while being provided medical treatment after falling from a height and sustaining injuries during a rescue operation by wildlife rangers.

According to sources, the airport administration called the Attock Wildlife Rangers on Saturday night after the monkey, which had been seen at the terminal building for two consecutive days, was spotted again.

A wildlife team reached the airport and attempted to capture the animal. However, the monkey kept jumping across the rooftops of the tall building and evaded capture.

The wildlife team then attempted to trap and rescue it. The monkey became unconscious after drinking milk mixed with an anaesthetic placed as bait. However, while attempting to escape, it fell from the roof and sustained injuries.

The animal was immediately provided first aid at the site and efforts were made to shift it to a veterinary hospital, but it died during the process.

Wildlife staff subsequently removed the monkey from the airport. A video recorded during the incident has also surfaced, showing staff members carrying the animal.

When contacted by Express, Assistant Wildlife Ranger Attock Rizwana Aziz said the wildlife staff had followed standard operating procedures (SOPs) to rescue the monkey.

She said an anaesthetic had been mixed in milk to render the animal unconscious, and the team attempted to rescue it after the prescribed time had elapsed.