Off the wall
Monkey on the loose in Erbil sparks concern, damages property
ERBIL — For two months, a stray monkey has been roaming a neighborhood in Nawqasra, damaging property and startling residents by climbing walls, snatching objects, and even grabbing children’s earrings, according to locals.
“The monkey is causing a lot of trouble. It has damaged internet cables, broken security cameras, and keeps jumping from wall to wall,” said resident Mam Ghazi, who spoke to 964media.
No one has claimed ownership of the primate, which frequently climbs electricity cables and shifts from building to building. While keeping pets is not widespread in the Kurdistan Region, cats and dogs are relatively common ones. Monkeys are not. Local media have reported on monkeys, lions, and tigers, being smuggled into Iraq and the Kurdistan Region along with other non-native species to be sold as pets.
Ten-year-old Yari Ahmad described his own encounter with the animal. “I just want it taken away. It even came into my school once, and I ran away,” he told 964media.
Some residents say the monkey is particularly attracted to gold. “It grabs anything it can reach, and it’s especially drawn to gold,” one local noted.
Mohammed Omer, director of media and relations at Erbil Zoo, told 964media that the monkey does not belong to them but confirmed they are aware of the situation.
“We have sent teams twice to capture it but were unsuccessful. Even organizations specializing in monkeys have reached out to assist, yet we still haven’t been able to catch it,” he said.
Omer added, “It’s not just one—there are actually three monkeys.”
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