Changi Airport is known for being a good place to hang out for Singaporeans who have run out of places to lounge around.

One long-tailed macaque, being an extremely intelligent and adaptable species, was quick to pick up this habit and take a breather from the hot morning sun in the air-conditioned Terminal 3.

Macaque spotted at Departure Check-in Hall

A lone adult male long-tailed macaque was spotted at T3 Departure Check-in Hallon Oct. 29 , strolling along one of the poles at the ceiling in a video circulated via WhatsApp. 

Changi Airport Group shared this statement in response,

“A monkey was sighted yesterday morning at Changi Airport’s T3 Departure Check-in Hall. Changi Airport Group sought the assistance of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), who managed to capture the monkey safely. There was no disruption to airport operations during the incident.”

"It's a monkey at Terminal 3, oh my goodness. How did the monkey come here, oh my god."

On Instagram, some people at the airport also spotted it walking or climbing on the glass walls.

Captured

The macaque was later captured with the help of the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres). Although the macaque did not disrupt the airport operation during the monkey's brief visit,  there were concerns about the animal venturing onto the runaway or near a plane, which prompted the quick action.

Acres deputy chief executive officer, Kalai Vanan, shared with Mothership.sg:

"Given the situation, we embarked on a operation to rescue and relocate the macaque. As the animal was mobile, we darted the macaque from a distance. Long-tailed macaques are native to Singapore.

We are currently assessing his health and working with Nparks to secure a release site within the next couple of days. As we urbanise more and our green spaces become more fragmented, sightings of lone macaques could potentially occur more. We advise the public to keep a distance from them. Do not feed them as this will result in them staying in the area."

Creative speculations from the netizens

This rare sighting naturally got netizens wondering what brought the macaque to the airport in the first place.

Everybody needs a getaway, even macaques apparently.

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Top photo collage from Sawal Waren video and Instagram. All screenshots from CNA comment section here and here.