Four monkeys who escaped after the truck they were in crashed on a Pennsylvania highway have been recaptured after the trailer they were in collided with a pickup truck.
State troopers said Saturday morning that three of the monkeys had been found with the help of multiple agencies, but one of the monkeys had remained on the loose. Officials said Saturday night that the elusive long-tailed macaque was finally found around 7:16 p.m.
After the crash, troopers had urged members of the public to keep their distance and immediately call 911 if spotting the monkey. The troopers did not explain what dangers the monkeys pose if encountered by the public.
“We are asking that no one attempt to look for or capture the animal. Anyone who sees or locates the monkey is asked not to approach, attempt to catch, or come in contact with the monkey. Please call 911 immediately,” the troopers tweeted.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an organization that advocates for animal rights, released a statement after the crash noting that the long-tailed macaques were on their way to a CDC-approved quarantine facility in Florida after arriving in the United States from Mauritius.
“Because these 100 long-tailed macaque monkeys were headed to a laboratory to be caged, tormented, and killed, they were already in danger-but now the public is, too,” the statement from PETA reads.
“The four who got away — including one who is still missing — are undoubtedly terrified and likely injured, and they may be harboring viruses that are transmissible to humans. There is no way to ensure that monkeys are virus-free.”
The long-tailed macaque monkeys, also known as cynomolgus monkeys, are often used in scientific research, The New York Times noted, and were in high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic for researching vaccines.
