COLUMBUS – Police in Minerva Park are on the lookout for what they believe is a howler monkey.
Minerva Park Police Chief Kim Nuesse says an officer spotted the primate around 11:00 a.m. Thursday eating something and sitting on a fence in the 2800 block of Lakewood Drive, according to a report in the Columbus Dispatch.
Nuesse says that based on the officer’s description authorities are searching for a howler monkey, similar to the one pictured above.
Police and the state Department of Agriculture say they haven’t found any pet owners in the area who are missing any primates.
Police say residents should not approach the monkey, which are afraid of humans and can be territorial.
Anyone who sees the animal is asked to call 614-525-3333.
A state spokeswoman says 10 monkeys are permitted in the state and none of them live in the area.
Howler monkeys are native to Central and South America.