Monkey captured after escaping crate at San Antonio Airport

May 21, 2018 6:25 pm

By: News Staff

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

SAN ANTONIO, T.X. (WLNE) — A retired research monkey from Brown University was on the loose at San Antonio International Airport, authorities said Monday afternoon.

ABC6 News learned a rhesus macaque was on the way to Born Free USA’s Primate Sanctuary outside San Antonio following flying out of Boston’s Logan Airport.

But the monkey escaped his crate and was running loose at San Antonio Airport.

American Airlines issued the following statement on the incident:

“After the arrival of American Airlines 1014 from Chicago O’Hare, a monkey that was en route to a local animal sanctuary and refuge in the San Antonio-area inadvertently became free of his cage. He is currently in an isolated area where it is safe, away from all of our team members and customers. We are working closely with the San Antonio Aviation Department and officials from the San Antonio Zoo. Officials from the zoo are now onsite to ensure his safety and wellbeing as he continues his journey to his new home at the primate sanctuary.”

Brian Clark, spokesman for Brown University said the following:

“On Monday, May 21, Brown’s animal care staff learned that an enclosure holding a rhesus macaque en route to a sanctuary in Texas came open upon arrival to the airport in San Antonio. As part of Brown’s commitment to the highest standards of animal health and safety, the University’s animal care professionals actively seek homes for non-human primates who are retired from research protocols. The macaque that en route to Texas when its enclosure became open was being transported from Brown to an animal sanctuary as part of the University’s commitment to animal well-being.”

At last check, the macaque was recaptured.

No flights or passengers were affected.