In St. Louis, Missouri, several monkeys are still out and about, and it seems the city’s health department has put a pause on searching for them, as confirmed by local officials.
Willie Springer, a spokesman for the Health Department, noted that the monkeys were first spotted near a park on the north side of the city last Thursday.
It appears that these creatures are vervet monkeys.
Vervet monkeys, which are native to Africa, are medium-sized primates recognized for their grey-green fur and distinct dark faces, according to the African Wildlife Foundation.
Interestingly, vervet macaques, typically found close to human populations, are sometimes seen as nuisances since they can take food, raid crops, and swipe other items, which often leads to extreme measures for control.
At this point, it’s not entirely clear how many monkeys are actually roaming the streets or who might own them.
Springer indicated that the highest number reported together was four, indicating it’s likely a small group that’s on the loose in the city. Given the laws in St. Louis against owning monkeys, it’s improbable that residents would claim them.
Authorities, including experts from the St. Louis Zoo, are actively involved in efforts to locate the monkeys.
Residents are watching for any signs of the monkeys, but false reports and AI-generated images are muddling search efforts, as officials have pointed out.
Springer commented on the confusion, saying, “There’s been a lot of talk about AI and what’s real and what’s fake. People are just having fun… I don’t think they’re putting anyone in harm’s way.”
Those who have concrete information or sightings are urged to report them directly to the St. Louis Department of Citizen Services, as noted in a post from the city’s Health Department.
City officials have also advised that residents should refrain from approaching the monkeys and to inform authorities instead.
On Monday, the city began shifting focus from searching to enforcing wildlife ordinances, according to Justin Hauser, director of the Department of Health and Environmental Health Bureau.
