How Three Monkeys Escaped from Ibarbo Park and Ended Up at SMPN 1 Sleman

Three long-tailed macaques have been roaming the grounds of SMP Negeri 1 Sleman, a state junior high school, after escaping from the nearby Ibarbo Park tourist attraction. Ibarbo Park General Manager Ajris Sufata confirmed the monkeys originated from the park’s mini zoo, where their presence had drawn complaints from visitors. “We used to have monkeys; our business is a tourist park with a mini zoo. We received a lot of feedback on Google that the monkeys were causing a smell,” Ajris explained on Thursday (23/7/2026). In response, the park decided to remove the monkeys from the mini zoo and planned to hand them over to a community group. Ten monkeys were relocated to individual cages, but the new enclosures were not secure. “After being moved to cages near SMP 1, around November if I’m not mistaken, they escaped. They weren’t proper monkey cages—more like small, boxy cat carriers,” he said. Efforts to recapture the animals have been ongoing. Of the ten that escaped, seven have been secured and handed over to a community. The remaining three were recently spotted at the school. Ajris stated that traps will be set in coordination with the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA). “We are monitoring and preparing for evacuation. We have borrowed ready-made traps from a community, and they will coordinate with BKSDA on where to place them,” he added. School security officer Ahmad Fauzan said the monkeys were first noticed on Wednesday afternoon (22/7) and were still present the following day. “I was on night duty Tuesday, and there were no animals at the back. But on Wednesday morning, three monkeys were suddenly in the school, causing a commotion among the students. I was shocked myself,” Fauzan recounted. Teachers have complained that the monkeys are disrupting lessons, as the animals not only perch in trees but also wander along the school corridors. “A teacher complained today that they are somewhat disruptive. When the monkeys pass along the classroom corridor, the children’s attention immediately shifts to them. It disturbs their concentration during lessons,” he said. The school traced the monkeys’ origin to Ibarbo Park, which is located not far from the school. Fauzan noted that park officials had previously reported ten monkeys escaped, with seven now recaptured, leaving the three still at the school.