Two dangerous monkeys are still on the loose after an entire troop escaped from a Czech zoo.

Nine crested macaques, which have a strong bite, escaped from Decin Zoo in the Czech city of the same name on 12th June.

As of yesterday (14th June), six were still missing, and the zoo, which had been closed, made the decision to reopen.

At the time of writing, four of the missing six had been recaptured, leaving just two still on the run.

At least three of the monkeys were caught using cages filled with food, which had been set up near the zoo in the hope that they might attempt to return home.

Speaking about how the troop escaped, the zoo said on 13th June: “Due to an unwelcome visitor who damaged the electric fence near one of the enclosures yesterday evening, the entire troupe of crested macaques escaped.

“Some monkeys remained within the zoo premises, while others have been spotted in the surrounding area.”

The man later confirmed that he had deliberately damaged the electric fence after getting a shock while trying to touch one of the monkeys.

It is unclear if he realised breaking the device would allow them to escape.

The 42-year-old was caught later on as he tried to break into a nearby country pub. He was arrested by the police, who said he tested positive for cannabis.

His name was not revealed, but he has been charged with vandalism over the incident.

The crested black macaque (Macaca nigra), also called Celebes crested macaque, is a mainly arboreal Indonesian monkey. Adult males weigh nearly 10 kilogrammes (22 lb).

The species is considered critically endangered.

The species was famously at the centre of the so-called “monkey selfie copyright dispute”.

Between 2011 and 2018, a series of disputes took place about the copyright status of selfies taken by Celebes crested macaques using equipment belonging to the British nature photographer David Slater.