Residents of St Louis, Missouri, recently reported sightings of vervet monkeys roaming the streets, leading to concerns about their presence in the urban environment. St. Louis Department of Health officials have denied that an unspecified number of monkeys are free. The only places they’re consistently seen are around O’Fallon Park, located in North City. Such an extraordinary occurrence would be a first, with monkeys roaming freely in the city’s streets for the first time ever.
Vervets, native to East Africa, are easily recognized by their black faces and diminutive size. These primates frequently thrive poorly in human-dominated landscapes, becoming troublesome pests that steal food and raid crops. Consequently, vervet monkeys are often subject to considerable culling as a result of the nuisances they create in farm environments.
“The Department of Health has confirmed that multiple monkeys are on the loose around the vicinity of O’Fallon Park in North City. Original reports suggested there were four animals, but we cannot confirm an actual number at this time, only that there is more than one,” – Justen Hauser.
Residents are strongly encouraged not to approach or try to catch the monkeys because of the ill consequences. When kept as pets, vervet monkeys can develop bitey and aggressive behavior. They frequently wind up locked in kennels cages leading to an unfortunate experience for both the animals and their humans. In addition, these monkeys cannot be imported, exported or sold in the U.S. due to the Captive Primate Safety Act.
“We are working to get an idea of where they may be hiding or seeking food. We are engaging with partner agencies that are properly trained and equipped to safely capture these animals. Once captured, the monkeys will be transported to a facility certified to care for exotic animals,” – Justen Hauser.
The surprise of these vervet monkeys in St Louis is not just that they exist, but where exactly they came from. Or they might have simply been sold for profit in their eventual location within the United States. Some people might have been ripped from their mothers as young as three weeks old. Unfortunately, these practices exacerbate the complicated reality over the care and well-being of such smart nonhuman primates.
“They are very intelligent and social, but may be unpredictable or aggressive under stress. If you spot them, please call 314-657-1500 so that we can try to triangulate their location,” – Justen Hauser.
To help accommodate this unusual situation, one sanctuary in South Texas has accepted one of the vervet monkeys. And the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary is at the forefront of such efforts, making primate welfare and safety a top priority, along with their work in direct care.