Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
10h ago

Vervet Monkeys Remain at Large Near St. Louis' O'Fallon Park as City Mounts Capture Effort

Officials have engaged trained teams to trap the vervet monkeys for transfer to certified care.

A vervet monkey sits in a tree on July 19, 2010, in the Edeni Game Reserve, South Africa. Edeni is a 21,000-acre wilderness area with an abundance of game and birdlife located near Kruger National Park in South Africa.
Image
Vervet monkeys spotted loose in St. Louis
Image

Overview

  • City health and animal-control officials say multiple vervet monkeys remain loose around O'Fallon Park after searches on Jan. 8 and 9 failed to locate them.
  • The exact number is unconfirmed following early reports of four animals, with officials stating only that there is more than one.
  • The monkeys’ origin is unknown, and owning primates is illegal under St. Louis ordinance, leaving no prior records to trace.
  • A St. Louis Zoo primate expert identified the animals as vervet monkeys, and the zoo is not linked to housing or transport of the primates.
  • Authorities have activated trained partner agencies to capture the animals and move them to certified facilities, and residents are urged to report sightings to Animal Care & Control at 314-657-1500; no captures have been confirmed.