Missing squirrel monkey found safe in SF park

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A squirrel monkey that went missing last week has been found safe.

Banana-Sam was found wandering Stern Grove Park about three miles from the zoo by a passerby Saturday afternoon.

Authorities say passerby was able to coax the monkey into his backpack. The passerby then called San Francisco police, who recovered the monkey and returned Banana-Sam to the San Francisco Zoo.

Zoo officials say Banana-Sam was thoroughly checked out upon his return and the monkey is healthy, although the zoo says he was hungry, thirsty and trembling.

Banana-Sam was thought to have been stolen from the zoo; it's unclear if this is still the case. Zoo officials had been worried about Banana-Sam due to his old age and his special nutritional needs, and had offered a sizable reward for his safe return.

It is illegal to own a monkey as a pet in California.

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animal, san francisco zoo, crime, san francisco news

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