Monkey Escapes Independence, Kansas Zoo

Independence police are on the lookout for a capuchin monkey that escaped from its pen at the southeast Kansas zoo this week.

Independence Police Chief Harry Smith says the monkey was one of two that broke free Wednesday at the Ralph Mitchell Zoo.

Smith said a zookeeper failed to secure a lock after cleaning the pen and the monkeys fled. Smith said one was captured shortly afterward, but the other remains free.

The pair was housed in a building not open to the public. The zoo has an area called Monkey Island from which the pair was removed six months ago.

Smith said live traps have been set up around the zoo and nearby neighborhoods, but he thinks the monkey may have died due to this week's high temperatures in southeast Kansas. He said the capuchin is older and suffered recent injuries.