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LAKELAND, Fla. (UPI) -- The co-owner of a wildlife preserve north of Lakeland, Fla., said a dozen monkeys who pulled off a daring escape from the facility are evading capture.

Lex Salisbury, co-owner of wildlife preserve Safari Wild and president of Lowry Park Zoo, said the monkeys escaped en masse Saturday by swimming the 8-foot-deep, 60-foot wide moat that surrounded the island they were taken to Thursday, the Tampa (Fla.) Tribune reported Tuesday.

He said the patas monkeys, considered among the fastest primates, have evaded capture but are not considered dangerous. Salisbury said the monkeys, which are native to Africa, have predator-evading experience that will likely keep them safe from Florida wildlife.

"These guys are pretty smart," he said. "They'll be fine."

Salisbury said the current plan for catching the monkeys involves leaving food for them at the same place every day until they are lured into a routine and a trap can be set.


Copyright 2008 by United Press International

© 2008 Dime Brothers

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