Monkey Who Escaped Zoo Hit by Car, Officials Say
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NEED TO KNOW
- Animal control officials in North Carolina say that a monkey was struck by a car after it escaped from a local zoo
- A capuchin monkey was struck near Troutman, N.C., on Tuesday, Sept. 23, after it escaped from the nearby Zootastic Park
- Authorities have yet to share a health update about the animal, which can weigh anywhere from three to nine pounds and is native to Latin America
Animal control officials in North Carolina say that a monkey was struck by a car after it escaped from a local zoo.
The capuchin monkey that escaped from the Zootastic Park was hit by a car in the area of Troutman, N.C. — located about 35 miles outside Charlotte — on Tuesday, Sept. 23, according to local outlets WBTV and WCNC.
In a press release from Iredell County, authorities said that both police officers and animal services arrived at the scene of the crash and found the monkey alive.
Authorities quickly took the monkey to its owners at the zoo, and Iredell County Animal Services (ICAS) said that no further updates about the monkey’s health were available, per the outlets.
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The monkey originally escaped from its habitat on Sept. 17, per the Iredell County Animal Services.
“The monkey is owned by Zootastic Park in Troutman, and we are actively working with them to ensure the animal is safely recaptured,” the agency wrote in a Facebook post at the time of its escape, before sharing an important safety reminder.
The park offers “animal encounters,” during which visitors can pay to have hands-on interactions with the capuchin monkey and other animals.
ICAS did not share exactly how the animal was able to escape from the park.
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“Do NOT attempt to capture, chase or interact with the monkey,” ICAS added after the escape.
A resident captured footage of the loose monkey, and local news outlets shared video of the wild animal climbing utility poles and wires in the area.
According to the Rainforest Alliance, capuchin monkeys are a relatively small species of monkey, weighing only about three to nine pounds on average. They’re known for their dark brown fur with cream points, and are native to large swathes of Brazil and other parts of Latin America.
Capuchin monkeys usually live in large groups, ranging from 10 to 35 animals, and survive on a diet of fruit, insects, leaves, small birds and more.
Zootastic Park did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further information about the monkey’s health on Thursday, Sept. 25.
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples
