Traumatised monkey dies at wildlife park

6:01 pm on 4 September 2010

All dangerous animals are safely enclosed at Orana Wildlife Park but one monkey has died following a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Canterbury on Saturday.

The quake cause widespread damage throughout the region and has knocked out power and water to the popular attraction.

Park chief executive Lynn Anderson says one of its black and white monkeys became traumatised and tried to escape from its island enclosure and drowned in a moat on Saturday.

Mr Anderson says staff managed to save a kiwi egg, which is due to hatch next week.