Lonely monkey is abandoned by its troop after cruel pranksters douse it in red paint in Taiwan

• Lonely monkey spotted wandering around Renshan Botanical Garden in Taiwan 
• Taiwanese macaque was thought to have been doused in red paint by pranksters
• As a result it faced being disowned by its troop  for having bright coloured fur

A monkey has been disowned by its troop after pranksters in Taiwan doused it in red paint.

The lonely monkey was seen wandering a park alone after being outcast by his tribe following what is thought to have been a prank. 

The adolescent Formosan rock macaque was spotted by a visitor at Renshan Botanical Garden in Taiwan’s eastern county of Yilan.

Lu Cheng-lin, who was hiking in the park, said he noticed the animal which he thought was a bright-red species of monkey.

It was only on closer inspection through his camera lens that he realised it was a regular Formosan rock macaque – or Taiwanese macaque – which appeared to have had its fur doused in red paint.

The macaque in Renshan Botanical Garden in Yilan, Taiwan, covered in red paint. It is thought to have been abandoned by its troop due to its bright colour 

After witnessing the sad sight Lu added: ‘It [the monkey] looked sad and lonely.’

Experts believe the macaque may be in trauma or shock after having been coloured red.

The bright and odd fur colour also means it is likely facing exclusion from its troop, reports said.

Officials with the Yilan County Agriculture Department say the spread of the paint suggests the macaque was likely captured and deliberately sprayed or doused with the liquid.

When visitors to the park saw the Taiwanese macaque (pictured) they thought it was a red species of monkey

According to reports, it may have been a cruel prank after the animal was caught by local farmers, although authorities have yet to confirm the theory.

Officials say they have sent a team into Renshan Botanical Garden to find the macaque in order to monitor and potentially bring it in for a check-up.

It is unclear whether the macaque faces permanent ostracism from its tribe, or whether its bright-red fur puts it in danger of falling prey to its natural predators.

The Agriculture Department noted that the perpetrators face a fine of up to £7,445 (300,000 TWD) for breaching Taiwan’s Animal Protection Act.

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