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Polk Monkey Hunt Challenge: Escaped Troop Has Split Up
Photo from Javier Avellán
The reddish brown patas monkeys, such as this one at New Orleans Audubon Zoo, are not considered dangerous and carry no diseases.
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Published: April 23, 2008
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TAMPA - In the woods and pastures of northern Polk County, the monkeys that broke out of a wildlife preserve as a group on Saturday have split up.
Nine patas monkeys are hanging out in a wooded area less than a mile from their starting point, Safari Wild, a wildlife attraction that is set to open in 2009. Two have splintered from the group but are nearby.
A lone male patas has broken off entirely and headed north. He last was seen about two miles north of the park on the edge of the Green Swamp, an 860-square-mile expanse of subtropical environment that in some areas is impenetrable.
There's still hope that all 12 monkeys will be captured, said Lex Salisbury, co-owner of Safari Wild and president of Lowry Park Zoo. Salisbury is taking vacation time from his zoo job to chase the absconders.
The patas monkeys were brought to the preserve on Thursday. On Saturday, they surprised keepers by swimming across a 60-foot-wide moat surrounding their 1-acre island home inside the 260-acre park north of Lakeland. They then climbed a 28-foot wall to get to freedom.
One female patas made the swim and climb with a baby clinging to her back.
On Monday morning, a rancher spotted the troop, and by Tuesday afternoon, most had been located, although they were somewhat spread out.
"The good news is that most of them are just a half-mile from their island," he said.
Salisbury said he has set out food for the monkeys. The larger group nestled around a deer feeder, he said, and they were eating corn. Once they get comfortable in their surroundings and begin taking food set out by the keepers, the trap will spring. Catching as many as possible in the first try is important to keep from further scattering the colony.
The loner was seen Tuesday near the Green Swamp, where he left a half-eaten orange from the backyard of home there, Salisbury said. Spooked by a couple of news helicopters hovering over the area Tuesday, the male separated from the troop.
"There was a lot of chaos here yesterday," Salisbury said this morning. "He'll calm down now."
Of all the monkeys, that loner is the tamest.
"He'll take a banana right out of your hand," Salisbury said.
The monkeys all have microchip implants but are not being tracked by satellite or radio signal.
Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( cherrylynn18 ) on April 23, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
They're just monkeying around!
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Posted by ( Magic8101 ) on April 23, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Polk County could benefit from the
improved gene pool.
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Posted by ( Magic8101 ) on April 23, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ought to improve the Polk
County gene pool.
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Posted by ( Longball ) on April 23, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Givem tin cups and send them to Tallahassee. Maybe they can collect enough money to ease our budget. Second thought put in suits and let loose on the House floor and they well blend right in.
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Posted by ( altedbaseball ) on April 23, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
my money is on the monkeys.............
run monkey run.
people in polk do not have the genetic make up to "spring" on this sort of primate.
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Posted by ( thatguyfl82 ) on April 23, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
So let me get this straight? There was only 1 male and He separated and went his own way?
that could be a good thing, cause if they don't get caught right away and start breeding, it could be a Jungle out there :-)
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Posted by ( Concerned1963 ) on April 23, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is much more interesting than watching Hillary and Barack throw feces at each other!
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Posted by ( Coast2Coast ) on April 23, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Microchip implants...possibly dialed into Sirius Radio and are listening to Howard Stern....lol
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Posted by ( rman ) on April 23, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Co-owner Lex Salisbury says don’t worry the monkeys will be fine. He also wants to introduce other exotic animals to his new park. I am not worried about the monkeys Lex. I am worried about you introducing these animals to our neighborhoods. 15 monkeys that eat plants and small animals that can run 30 mph, climb and breed is a problem.
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Posted by ( PJC ) on April 23, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hope these monkeys are wearing briefs or have been neutured, we dont want the children seeing their little monkey nutts OR butts....geeeeeezzz...they'll be getting tickets for indecent exposure or moving violations or sumthing...
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Posted by ( mr_hanky ) on April 23, 2008 at 5:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
How will they be absolutely sure they have the right escapees? Doesn't everyone out there in Polk like alike? Oh, wait - the monkeys have more teeth...
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Posted by ( whasup ) on April 23, 2008 at 11:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
The monkeys have scheduled a 9 a.m. press conference tomorrow at which they will address the issue of what they call 'inhuman' living conditions at the prison...er, preserve. They will announce a list of demands that must be met before they will return to the preserve. The monkeys will be speaking through their attorney, Ms. P.E. TeeA.
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Posted by ( RangerDave ) on April 24, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Those monkeys should get a good spanking when they are caught.
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