Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Thursday euthanized a monkey in Lake City that was not native to the U.S.
FWC spokeswoman Karen Parker said the monkey was not used to being out in the open, and officers were unsure how he would respond to the general public. She said they try to avoid taking the route of putting animals down.
"Euthanizing a lawfully possessed captive animal is always our last resort," Parker said.
No reported injuries resulted from the monkey's escape. Two other monkeys also escaped, were caught, and returned to their owners.