Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
3h ago

Loose Spider Monkey in South Carolina Town Caught With a Cup of Coffee

The unusual capture refocused attention on South Carolina’s lack of permits for most pet primates, prompting discussion of a bill to require statewide registration.

Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • Eutawville town clerk Casey Hill spotted the spider monkey during the Crappie Classic and Fall Fest on Oct. 4 and coordinated with Mayor Brandon Weatherford to track it.
  • Hill set a hot cup of coffee on the ground, then stepped on the animal’s leash as it investigated, allowing the capture without reported injuries.
  • A woman soon identified the primate as her pet, Ava, and reclaimed the animal after the incident.
  • Spider monkeys are legal to own in South Carolina without a permit, though a 2025 proposal would require registration of all pet primates.
  • Animal-welfare advocates say spider monkeys have complex social and dietary needs, and recent primate incidents in the state include a 2024 escape of 43 rhesus macaques from the Alpha Genesis facility.