Final monkey caught, NEPA seeking to take action against importer
Published:Wednesday | July 23, 2025 | 2:39 PM
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) says it has now captured the last of three monkeys that had been on the loose in the Stony Hill area of St Andrew.
The agency had reported capturing two of them on Tuesday.
It says the white-faced capuchin monkeys are now in quarantine under the care of the Veterinary Services Division (VSD) and the Hope Zoo.
In the meantime, the agency says it will be working with its partners, including the police and the VSD, to identify the location from which the monkeys escaped and will be taking the strongest possible legal action against the person or persons responsible for their importation.
NEPA notes that it is against Jamaican law to import animals into the country without the necessary approval from the VSD as well as the requisite permit from NEPA.
Persons in breach of the import requirements can be fined a maximum of $5 million under the Natural Resources and Conservation Authority Act.
The white-faced capuchin monkey is not native to the island and can pose serious threat to public health and Jamaica’s agricultural industry. The presence of the animal can also prove disruptive to the natural balance of the country’s ecosystem and biodiversity.
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