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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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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 23, 2008

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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