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Subscribe to RSSAfter four years of evading wildlife officials, Florida's "Mystery Monkey" was captured after biting a woman. WFLA's Peter Bernard reports.
After years on the run, the celebrity simian dubbed the “Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay” has been captured.
The monkey, which has eluded trappers for several years as it roamed a neighborhood in south St. Petersburg, was caught Wednesday after a veterinarian shot it with a tranquilizer dart, Baryl Martin, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told Tampa Bay Online.
Authorities intensified efforts to capture the monkey after it bit a 60-year-old woman on the back earlier this month. The woman, who did not want to be identified, said she was sitting on her porch when the creature jumped on her and started scratching and gnawing on her skin.
Archive video: After being on the loose for months, a rhesus macaque monkey continues to drive animal control officials bananas in the Tampa Bay area. NBC's Kerry Sanders reports.
Woman fends off attack from 'Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay'
Weeks before its capture, the monkey had grown more aggressive, thanks to residents who began feeding the monkey and treating it as more of a pet, officials said. The monkey reportedly lunged at residents and showed his teeth, TBO.com said.
Martin said they staked out an area where the monkey had been spotted several times, near Country Club Way South and Fairway Avenue South in St. Petersburg's Lakewood Estates, it said.
Trappers spotted the monkey on Wednesday on a low-hanging branch, about 2 to 3 feet off the ground, Martin told reporters.
Archive video: Jan. 15, 2009: A rhesus monkey is outrunning even a veteran trapper in Clearwater, Fla. NBC's Mark Potter reports.
A veterinarian at the scene shot the monkey with a tranquilizer dart. The monkey ran into the woods at a slow pace, so slow that trappers were able to snatch it by hand, TBO.com reported.
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The monkey was taken to a veterinarian's office, where it will be observed for a short time before it is placed in a permanent facility.
The monkey, which has gained notoriety in recent years after numerous sightings throughout the area, is a 40-pound wild rhesus macaque. Officials believe the monkey may have been cast out of a colony in Silver Springs near Ocala, Fla.
The monkey had become something of a celebrity, according to Tampa media. A Facebook page on behalf of the monkey was featured on Comedy Central’s "Colbert Report" and in a National Geographic special.
NBC News's Sevil Omer contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Now I suppose there will have to be a trial. And the monkey obviously will need a court appointed lawyer and translator. The old lady will probably sue the monkey.
Maybe the authorities will just spank the monkey.
When he was sitting on that tree was he swatting at airplanes trying to shoot him down?
All she will get are a few bananas....
I have been following this monkey's "career" for quite awhile. I even got the t-shirt. He has been on the lamb for something like three or four years, living in the St. Pete area and getting coverage on local news. I was in Sarasota when he first was on the run.
I hope they give him a nice place to live, retirement in the Sunshine State.
I live in SW Fla also and have followed the saga of the "Mystery Monkey" since the beginning. Almost like Big Foot, some people saw him/her, some didn't. The legend has finally been confirmed. I know he/she will be treated well. That's something afforded to all celebrities, and he/she is a celebrity. To quote Ray Stevens...."Let's hear it for the monkey".
this one's for the monkey....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwHWbsvgQUE
plain bob--good one.
Lots of guys my age are experiencing Tranquil Monkey Syndrome - give it the little blue pill and it will be fine.
Bob; we requested George of the Jungle.
It's probably just a matter of time before escaped monkeys populate Florida like the pythons have.
I can see the fight now, the vet stared down the monkey and said, "Do you feel lucky monk? Go ahead, Macaque my day".
Probably a lot of old, crotchety monkeys in the Tampa/St. Pete area, especially around golf courses.
Codger64: I almost spit my coffee all over the screen. ROFLMAO!! Thanks for starting my day with a laugh.
There are already too many monkeys in Florida and they are all eligible to vote. What they desperately need there is more big gators.
So which monkee was it? Mike, Peter, or Mickey?
RIP Davey.
Quite a monkey tale.
Did the veterinarian use a scope on his rifle? If the monkey was sued for biting someone and went to trial, would it be called the Scopes Monkey Trial? Just kidding.
What a beautiful creature. Glad he/she is safe.
A little "monkey business" before the election.... perfect. Well at least he will have a APEpointmnent with the Vet. Ok... ok.. I'm done.... But I can definitely see why he like Florida so much during this election cycle..... (wait for it)..........
Because it is a major... (snicker) SWING STATE. ( ROFL)
...And I am sure this monkey is registered "Independent." He certainly was all of that for a long time.
Several years to catch one monkey? Were they even trying?
Maybe it was one of those flying monkeys.
They were afraid of the racial overtones on this one. Morons below perfect proof.
That monkey's white, the white ones get away with everything
Wish we could cage the racists and the idiots who think everything is political. Leave the monkeys alone! LOL.
He was just trying to stand his ground.
One steel trap and you would have had him.
That would be the same group looking for WMD in Iraq.
If Obama had a son...
he would have caught that little fella a long time ago.
Wow, way to show off how dumb you are.
Idiot.
oops, aplause, aplause
Wish we could cage the racists instead of the monkeys!
I think you meant Dumya would of had a chance at catching some "little fella" that was terrorizing people (or his daddy) during his 8 year reign (take a look at the link below to see the connection LOL)
Oh ya I believe the prez caught the top 3 terrorists in 4 years (something the reps couldn't block him from doing) that alone gets my vote -- AGAIN !!!
http://www.bing.com/search?q=Bush+monkey+ears&form=MSNH14&pq=bush+monkey+ears&sc=0-0&sp=-1&qs=n&sk=
Funny how Romney looks an awful lot like Mr. bush . . . . .
Wish we could tranquilize some of these people making such stupid comments especially Dame808..you are either a nut job or a dumb ass..either way you should be put to sleep for a bit..
Dame808...your racist ignorance is not funny. Oooh wait, are you in middle school and heard that from your parents? Still not funny....grow up tool.
Did everyone miss the point of Dame808's post?
It's called sarcasm or irony, you could really take your pick. Geez guys, get your heads out yer behinds. It was a comment based on some people's ability to see racial overtones in everthing, for either good or ill. Most of you proved her point.
Dame808, I guess some people just don't get it. (except Kathy) Wish I had thought of that one! Kudos. lol.
Since people were feeding it on their porches/yards, I have no sympathy for the woman who got bitten and scratched by the monkey, she probably tried to hand feed the animal and it got agressive when it didn't receive its food quick enough. When will people learn that wild animals aren't "pets"??? I'm glad for the monkey that it is caught and is in a facility.
Yeah and I can just imagine what kind of a facility!
Came here to see if any goons would make a political, racist comment and I wasn't disappointed.
Jeesh.
Hey, Mystery Monkey, so sorry to see that you have been captured. I hope you enjoy your new home and are found to be in good health. Please do a follow up story NBC to let us know how he is doing. It was cool seeing you swing around and avoiding capture; showing how highly intelligent you are. Hmm, got out of that banana cage twice before they finallly got you huh; well, I imagine you will escape your new home soon! Keep on monkeying around Mystery Monkey, and do not let us humans get you down.
Kat
9 deleted, dj345 with a derail - plus racism:
Banned, this was typical.
I think the only folks more sad about the capture than the Mystery Monkey are the people running the facebook page.
Look at this from the monkey's point of view. He's a social animal with no others of his kind around. He was probably trying to groom the old lady and she freaked out. His displays of aggression may result from his inability to connect and bond with any of the other primates around him. People get aggressive and mean too when they are rejected by everyone else in the world. In captivity, at least he will be with other monkeys.
That's one naughty little monkey. I just watched the "Hangover II" (again) last night and this is right on queue. I wonder if it smokes or was a drug mule?? The lady that got bit probably didn't pay up. Oh well, if he did in fact get kicked out of a wild colony, I'm sure he'll do just fine with his NEW friends.
Silver Springs to Tampa is over 100 miles. Can they really travel that far?
BUSTED
A monkey that attacked a woman and has roamed around the neighborhood for a few years acting aggressive is tranquilized and sent to a cozy facility to be handed over to a zoo.
A pack of wolves kill a few cows on open government property and the entire pack is slaughtered.
Nice.
Not equivalent.
It's back to the lab for you monkey boy.
People were told not to feed the monkey. Of course people started feeding him, which ruined the monkey. He became aggressive and after people for food. Finally chomping on an old lady.
Thanks people for being irresponsible, again!
Where was the Secret Service when he got shot?
LOL..........I couldn't resist.
Go Ahead lefties, tell me what a racist I am.
Why....and make you feel good about yourself???? You called yourself a racist....you don't need anyone else to agree with you.
Blah Blah Blah ......Linda. Get a Life!
Funny how you believe people on the left are the only ones to call you a racist. This is a nice piece of evidence that this is common rhetoric on the right and even the Cons like yourself agree-be it through a freudian slip but still very interesting. "We teabaggers aint racist, we just want to get our country back." Sure. thats what you say to the camera, but we all know what you mean ;)
I... honestly can't tell if Intelligent bald is trolling or mentally deficient. It's a tough call.
I'm so glad they were able to catch him. The poor guy was scared and lonely. Monkeys are very social creatures. Being alone for years would have been horrible for him.
You want the monkey to stay free but then again the monkey will be safer and less likely to be killed now.
That's true, as much traffic as in that area it's a wonder he never got ran over or hit by a car.
The mystery monkey's college records and pass ports are not for public view. He must have handed out a few banannas for that.
Drugs
Niki puts on her KKK hood every night. She is not too bright and must see that it fits every night.
Niki is that the best you could come up with..I'm with Harry on this one..your pointy little hood seems to be too tight..
Rhesus are cute monkeys.
i like reese's peanut butter cups better...
Damn. It was about to vote for Romney.
saddest day ever!!!!
At some point the monkey was going to be caught. Until he was shot, he was just hanging around. You know they will name the damn thing. I think Houdini would work.
Striking resemblance to Stephen Colbert ... especially the ears.
lemme guess.. the monkey was registered to vote in Florida as a Republican by Strategic Allied Consultants...
/s