Hudson Beach Rhesus Macaque Sightings Prompt Plea

HUDSON BEACH, FL — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking folks to avoid any monkey business with a fugitive rhesus macaque that has been spotted in the Hudson Beach area. The agency is, however, asking anyone who spots the little runaway to contact it immediately.

A number of reported sightings related to the critter have been called into FWC recently, prompting the agency to ask “members of the public who see the animal to call in with information so that we can protect public safety and continue to work toward a positive outcome,” the agency wrote in an email to media Thursday.

As a search for the creature continues, people in the Hudson Beach area are being asked to secure their trash to avoid attracting the monkey. They’re also being asked to not approach or feed the critter, “as it can cause serious harm,” the agency warned.

Rhesus macaques are omnivores that are native to India, Southeast Asia, China and Afghanistan. The creatures normally live in troops, according to National Geographic.

The Hudson Beach macaque isn’t the first of its kind to cause a bit of an uproar in the Tampa Bay area. A few years ago, the “Mystery Monkey” became a national celebrity of sorts as it managed to elude capture for a lengthy period of time. The macaque, later named Cornelius, was spotted in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties before it was captured. The little critter, believed to have been cast out of a colony in Silver Springs, was also accused of biting a Pinellas County woman during his lengthy life on the lam.

His story was twice featured on Comedy Central’s “Colbert Report,” taking the name of the Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay national.

Cornelius was captured back in October 2012 and was put in quarantine at a Safety Harbor animal hospital for a time before being transferred to Dade City’s Wild Things. Zoo officials confirmed Thursday morning that Cornelius has not returned to his life on the run. He is reportedly content at his new home and now “has a wife and two kids.”

As for the Hudson Beach macaque, anyone who spots it is asked to call FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 or the Exotic Species Hotline at 888-Ive-Got1.

FWC spokesman Rob Klepper said people who spot the monkey should file reports as quickly as possible.

"Please be prepared to furnish several details regarding your observation, including approximate size of the animal, location and time of day," he said. "If possible, please take a photo to aid in accurate identification."

Image by Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble via Flickr