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3w ago

AI Misinformation Complicates Search for Vervet Monkeys Loose in St. Louis

City health officials are working with zoo primate experts to plan safe capture and transfer once the animals are located.

A vervet monkey sits in a tree on July 19, 2010, in the Edeni Game Reserve, South Africa. Edeni is a 21,000-acre wilderness area with an abundance of game and birdlife located near Kruger National Park in South Africa.
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Overview

  • Authorities confirm more than one vervet monkey has been roaming near O'Fallon Park since Thursday, though the exact number remains unknown.
  • Animal Care & Control officers patrolled the area over the weekend without locating the animals, and no captures were confirmed as of Monday.
  • AI-generated images and false social posts claiming the monkeys were caught are hindering verification of credible sightings, a city spokesperson said.
  • The origin of the primates is unclear, and owning exotic animals is illegal in the city, reducing the likelihood of an owner stepping forward.
  • Residents are urged not to approach the animals and to report sightings, with plans to move the monkeys to a certified exotic-animal facility once recovered.