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10 Patas Monkeys Collared; 5 At Large

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By KEITH MORELLI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 18, 2008

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

Ten of 15 escaped patas monkeys have been caught, said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Gary Morse.

"There are no injuries, as far as I know," Morse said.

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 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 monkey and a baby, but the rest remained free for more than a month before 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 60 feet wide in some places and about 8 feet deep. Two days after arriving, the primates escaped.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the escape, but said the probe likely would not be completed until all the animals are captured.

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

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