A snow monkey, also known as Japanese macaque.
Health Dept. doesn't know who owns monkey
By Matt Grant
Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 11:01 p.m.
Read more: Local, Health, Strange
COLUMBIA -- Columbia authorities are investigating the second monkey attack in less than a year.
The incident happened on the Fourth of July at a private home. A woman, in her early 20s, reported being bitten on the hand by a friend's pet snow monkey, also known as a Japanese macaque.
The animal was taken to St. Louis to be test for a rare but deadly virus monkeys are known to carry.
"The person that was bitten is receiving excellent medical care," said Deidre Wood with the Boone County Health Department. "She's following the steps that need to be done for her health care."
Privacy laws prevent officials from releasing the bite victim's name. They also prevent the identity of the monkey's owner from being revealed as well - even to animal control officers.
"The one hang up that we had is that we don't have the address of the monkey owner," said Wood. "So if we were to issue a summons right now we couldn't."
What's so bizarre is that this isn't the first time there's been a monkey attack in Columbia. Last September a similar type of monkey bit two children at a park. The owner and the monkey fled before police got to the scene.
But nationwide, more and more people are adopting exotic primate pets.
A quick online search shows plenty of Web sites dedicated to selling monkeys as pets. And the price can be anywhere from $1500 to $50,000.
At Columbia's Pet Center, the most exotic animal you'll find is a chinchilla. Manager Jeff Bush says customers sometimes ask about buying pet monkeys, which he wouldn't recommend.
There are laws on the books in Boone County which require the registration of exotic pets. Bush says more needs to be done to hold pet owners accountable.
"It kind of goes to show you there needs to be more people enforcing these laws," said Bush. "Because a lot of the animal laws are in place and they're good laws. There's just no one out there enforcing them to help keep everyone safe, and the animals safe as well."
KRCG News called all the Columbia council members Thursday but no one was availble for comment.
The Health Department says test reults on the monkey should be completed early next week.
