Monkey still on the loose at Memphis zoo after 24 hours

Memphis Zoo staff are still trying to catch a monkey who escaped her exhibit Thursday afternoon.

Sections of the zoo were closed to visitors as zookeepers searched for the escaped Sulawesi Macaque, who they say weighs 10 to 15 pounds and is “absolutely harmless”, ABC News affiliate WATN reported.

Zoo spokesperson Laura Doty said in a phone interview late on Friday morning that Zimm was still hiding in the culvert, where she had spent the night sleeping under the watchful eye of a group of zoo staff members.

“As we were looking at the primates, lo, and behold, a little monkey ran right in front of us”, said zoo visitor Kimberly Cross.

“I hope they get her pretty soon it’s super hot!” said one visitor.

Live video from WMC showed zoo personnel surround an area of the zoo as they attempted to reach Zim. The station added that zookeepers had been able to corner Zimm and had been attempting to corral her, but have been unsuccessful Thursday.

Over three hours after the monkey’s escape, zoo workers still couldn’t capture her. They said she climbed into a storm water drain.

“I think she is a bad monkey because she got Primate Canyon shut down, ” said 11-year-old Marissa Adams attending the summer camp at the zoo. “We’re just trying to keep her calm, cool, collected”.

And the culvert is where Zimm remains on Friday, Doty said.

“Because she’s out of her comfort zone, she’s scared”, explained Matt Thompson, Director of Animal Programs.

Zimm is following in the footsteps of the escaped Bronx Zoo’s cobra from 2011.