St Louis residents report monkeys roaming on city streets

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Eric BergerJanuary 10, 2026 at 06:42 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Multiple vervet monkeys have been spotted roaming the streets of north St. Louis this week, near O'Fallon Park. The St. Louis Department of Health is working with partner agencies to safely capture the animals, which have been identified by the St. Louis Zoo as a species common in East Africa. Authorities are unsure of the monkeys' origin, but they are working to locate them and determine where they may be seeking food and shelter. Vervet monkeys are sometimes kept as pets in the US, despite exotic animals, including primates, not being allowed as pets in St Louis. Once captured, the monkeys will be transported to a facility certified to care for exotic animals.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Washington DC 30% NBC 40% East Africa 40% Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary 40% African Wildlife Foundation 40% St Louis Zoo 50% O’Fallon Park 50% United States 50% Department of Health 60% Missouri 70% Justen Hauser ×270% St Louis ×590%

Keywords

monkeys 100% st louis 90% exotic animals 70% vervet monkeys 70% animal capture 60% captive primate safety act 50% animal sanctuary 50% animal welfare 40%