Gang of monkeys on the loose near a Missouri park baffles officials

A gang of monkeys wandering around the streets of Missouri is being hunted down after officials admitted they had no idea where they came from.

The city's Department of Health warned residents of St. Louis on January 9 about monkeys wandering in the North City area in a post to X with photos of the small primates.

'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, environmental health bureau chief with the St Louis Department of Health, said in a statement.

An animal control officer was dispatched on January 8 to O'Fallon Park, where the monkeys were spotted. The following day, several officers continued to patrol the area after reported sightings.

'We are working to get an idea of where they may be hiding or seeking food,' Hauser added. 'We are engaging with partner agencies that are properly trained and equipped to safely capture these animals.'

The St. Louis Zoo identified the primates as vervet monkeys, a species that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.

'At this time, we do not know where these animals came from,' said Hauser.

He added that monkeys are very intelligent and social, but may be unpredictable or aggressive if under stress.

After the vervets are eventually captured, they will be transported to a facility that caters to exotic animals.

The statement added that owning an exotic animal is prohibited in the city of St. Louis.

There are several subspecies of monkeys running loose in St. Louis, but generally, their bodies are greenish-olive or silvery-gray, according to the African Wildlife Foundation.

The vervet travels in packs of 10 to 50, known as troops, and is sometimes viewed as a pest for its habit of stealing food and raiding crops, leading to heavy annual slaughter by poison, traps, and guns.

The monkeys have become valuable to researchers in recent years, prompting them to be captured alive, according to the foundation.

The Vervet eats a primarily vegetarian diet of leaves and shoots, but also consumes bark, flowers, fruit, bulbs, roots, and grass seeds. However, they do at times ingest insects, baby birds, rodents, and eggs.

The species rarely drinks water, the outlet noted.

Marva Young, a resident of St. Louis, expressed her concern to KSDK: 'I think of danger because that's a wild animal.'

'We have dogs, cats, and mice around here in this area, and now we have to worry about monkeys! I'm scared because I now have to keep my dog inside at certain times because I don't want him to get attacked.'

Young added that the monkeys' appearance was quite frighting, noting their sharp teeth and claws.

'Make sure your doors are locked because the monkeys are loose,' she hollered at another neighbor.

At the time of this report, no monkeys have been captured. Officials urged locals to call 314-657-1500 if they spot a Vervet so they can triangulate their location.