Welland Tribune
Printed from www.wellandtribune.ca web site Friday, August 10, 2007 - © 2007 Welland Tribune Monkey on the lam recaptured

Wednesday, August 08, 2007 - 09:00

World News - A curious monkey who somehow managed to free himself from his pen in the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo and was on the lam for days was finally recaptured Monday.

Oliver was caught at Tupelo Stone & Masonry, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal newspaper reported, six days after leading park staff on a chase through the park's trail system before eventually eluding them.

Several days after the monkey's July 31 escape, an anonymous businessman offered a reward for the white-faced capuchin's capture and return.

Motorist Mike Fair, who helped end the search for Oliver, got the reward, which included a weekend stay at the Tupelo Hilton Garden Inn and special tours of the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum and the Tupelo Automobile Museum.

It wasn't the first time Oliver, 9, had escaped from the zoo. About six years ago the monkey escaped and ran amok on the grounds of Tupelo Country Club before being captured and returned to the zoo.

Within minutes of returning home after his latest adventure, Oliver feasted on grapes, marshmallows, monkey biscuits and bananas and then took a long nap.