ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) -
It was a good run, but one of the Bay Area's most notorious fugitives has finally been nabbed. The so-called 'Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay' was caught today, Florida Fish and Wildlife confirms.
The macaque has eluded capture for at least a year after settling into a quiet life in Pinellas County. However, the search was stepped up two weeks ago after he bit a St. Petersburg woman.
The monkey had become something of a national celebrity over the last few months, starting with thousands of fans on an anonymously run Facebook page. Eventually, the ongoing saga made headlines on Comedy Central's Colbert Report.
But wildlife officials were not amused by the monkey's antics, warning that it could eventually hurt someone. Their prediction came true earlier this month when a south St. Pete woman reported that he had bitten her on the back and neck. Officials at the time told the Tampa Bay Times it appeared to be an unprovoked attack.
After that, the FWC started using a 'bait monkey' to try and lure the fugitive into a trap, but it was a three-hour stakeout that led to the monkey's capture Wednesday. He had been showing up in the same spot each day at the same time, so it was just a matter of waiting for a chance to hit him with a tranquillizer dart.
As soon as he got hit, he actually pulled the dart out of his hip and waved it at the vet who shot him, then took off running into the brush.
Wildlife rescuer Vernon Yates tackled the monkey and the two rolled around a bit until the tranquillizer kicked in. The trappers cradled him like a baby and put him in a cage to sleep it off.
