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10 Escaped Patas Monkeys Nabbed; 5 Still On The Lam

Photo by Ann Mills

This patas monkey and its baby were caught in the Mills' family backyard in northern Polk County last month.

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 17, 2008

TAMPA - Trappers continue to pick off escaped monkeys in Polk County. One by one, the primates are falling prey to routine and carelessly walking into traps.

"Ten monkeys have been caught," said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Gary Morse. "There are no injuries, as far as I know."

The monkeys escaped from the Safari Wild preserve in April and have been running loose along the southern border of the Green Swamp north of Lakeland. Two were captured within weeks, three were caught last month. Just when the other five were nabbed was unclear, Morse said.

The five that remain on the lam appear to be smart enough or quick enough to elude capture. Trappers have said all along that they know where the monkeys are.

The monkeys are not dangerous and have split into two groups since their daring April 19 escape, when they surprised keepers by swimming a moat and climbing a tall fence surrounding their area.

In May, trappers captured an adult female and a baby, but the rest remained free for more than a month before another three more were captured last month. Sometime between then and now, five more were trapped, Morse said.

The five that remain in the woods on private property appear to be healthy as well, trappers say.

The troop was captured in Puerto Rico and was headed for euthanasia when an animal rescue group stepped in and transported them here in April.

The monkeys were on an acre-size island surrounded by a moat that was 60 feet wide in some places and about 8 feet deep. Two days after arriving, the primates surprised keepers by swimming across the moat and scaling a large fence.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the escape, but said it likely would not be finished until the animals are captured.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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