Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay

The Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay is a Rhesus Macaque (rhesus monkey) that has been on the loose and evading capture for approximately one year (as of March 2010) in St. Petersburg, Florida. The monkey is thought to be a male that weighs 30 pounds.

Authorities are not certain where the monkey came from. One possibility is that it could have been separated from a troupe of wild monkeys in Silver River State Park, approximately 103 miles north of St. Petersburg. Another possibility is that it could have escaped from an owner who does not have a permit and thus is not registered with authorities.

A Facebook page for the monkey has been set up, which has more than 60,000 fans (as of March 31, 2010). The monkey is shy and not considered a threat to humans. Its continued success at avoiding capture has been compared to the TV series The Fugitive. The monkey looks both ways to check for traffic before crossing the street.