Baboons have been issued with ASBOs after breaking into car rooftop luggage boxes at a drive-through safari park.


The baboons had a field day with this case of clothes

A number of families visiting Knowsley Safari Park in Merseyside have had to watch helplessly as the cheeky monkeys disappear up the trees with their clothes.

The Anti-Social Baboon Orders had to be issued at the height of the holiday season and guests were advised to avoid the baboon enclosure.

Park general manager David Ross said: "Their technique involves the largest baboons jumping up and down on the box, flexing it until the lock bursts open, when the rest of the baboons pile in to see what they can find.


The perfect accessory

"Obviously, we're well used to them helping themselves to the odd wing mirror or wiper blade, but this has taken things to a whole new level.

"Let's face it, nobody wants to see a baboon running up a tree with their underwear.

"For this reason, we now issue a warning to all visitors with luggage boxes as a matter of course.

"Unfortunately though, we still get drivers who don't think it will happen to them and they decide to take a chance.

"That's why we recently staged a demonstration to show the reality of the risks drivers face.


The baboons carefully chose colours to suit them

"The baboons were into the luggage box on our car within minutes and absolute mayhem ensued.

"We will now be able to show photographs of this incident to visitors with cargo boxes who may be thinking of playing Russian roulette in the monkey jungle."

There are currently more than 140 baboons at Knowsley Safari Park and visitor surveys consistently show them to be the attraction's most popular exhibit.



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