Monkey's wild day at the airport has a happy ending
Anarchy. Rebellion. High drama.
It was all happening at San Antonio International Airport, where a crafty, incredibly frightened rhesus macaque was on the loose after escaping from its transport crate on Monday afternoon.
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According to local CNN affiliate KSAT, the primate fugitive, identified as Dawkins, was in transit after an American Airlines flight from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, via Chicago.
Dawkins' destination? The Born Free USA sanctuary in La Salle County, Texas, which claims to be one of the country’s largest primate sanctuaries.
BREAKING NEWS!
A baboon is on the loose in the San Antonio International Airport.
https://t.co/kj1q1iOWJL— KSAT 12 (@ksatnews) May 21, 2018
Many outlets initially reported Dawkins as a baboon, but the CEO of Born Free USA, Prashant Khetan, identified the renegade as their future resident rhesus macaque.
We are aware that there are news reports ab a primate loose at the San Antonio Airport. It is Dawkins, who was scheduled to arrive at our Sanctuary today. We are working with authorities to keep the situation under control & to make sure Dawkins arrives at the Sanctuary ASAP.
— BornFreeUSA (@BornFreeUSA) May 21, 2018
So, how did this happen? According to KSAT, Dawkins made his escape from a transportation crate while being moved to cargo.
#BREAKING: Baboon out of its crate, on the loose at San Antonio Airport. @CBS8 pic.twitter.com/FPuY0qXbGB
— Barbara Richards (@sdbrichards) May 21, 2018
Caught on camera. Baboon that escaped enclosure at San Antonio Intl Airport has been captured. pic.twitter.com/Cjy0OuMUxX
— Kari Lake Fox 10 (@KariLakeFox10) May 21, 2018
A #kens5eyewitness was able to capture this video of the escaped monkey at the San Antonio Airport. The baboon has been contained, SAPD confirmed with KENS 5. pic.twitter.com/JOimlyoxtZ
— KENS 5 (@KENS5) May 21, 2018
Dawkins wandered around the cargo bay of the airport before handlers cornered him in the Terminal B baggage handling area. That's where they tranquillized the poor animal, and Dawkins' wild ride was over.
Airport spokesman Rich Stinson told AP that Dawkins didn't go near human travelers during the whole shenanigan, and that the activity was confined to a secure baggage area.
In a statement, American Airlines officials said that Dawkins had been captured and was back on course to the sanctuary.
"American Airlines, the San Antonio Aviation Department and officials from the San Antonio Zoo all worked in conjunction to ensure his safety and wellbeing as he continues his journey to his new home," the airline said in a later statement.
Later that day, Born Free USA announced that Dawkins had arrived safely at the sanctuary.
UPDATE ON DAWKINS: Dawkins has arrived, safe and sound, at our Primate Sanctuary! The stress of his journey and brief escape at the airport has tired him, but he is doing well. Thank you to everyone for your support and concern. We will post additional updates tomorrow.
— BornFreeUSA (@BornFreeUSA) May 22, 2018
What a rush.