Have you seen Banana Sam? A squirrel monkey has been kidnapped from the San Francisco Zoo and whoever finds him will be offered a $1,000 reward. Read more details after the jump!
The monkey-snatchers cut two holes into the metal mesh of the squirrel monkey enclosure and took the foot tall, two-pound animal on Thursday.
The zoo is offering a $1,000 reward for Banana Sam’s safe return.
Investigators believe someone stole the animal late on Thursday, San Francisco police Sgt. Michael Andraychak said.Â
‘It was apparent someone broke into the zoo and deliberately took the animal, we believe somebody has him,’ Andraychak said.
Zoo officials discovered Banana Sam was missing when they arrived at work on Friday morning.Â
The zoo said the thieves cut a back perimeter gate and made it to the top of a roof that houses five other primate exhibits.
 The zoo, which keeps about 20 squirrel monkeys, said it is concerned on many fronts.First, Banana Sam requires a special diet to survive and is older.Â
Also, while squirrel monkeys are not large animals, they have sharp teeth and will bite if provoked.
‘This was a criminal act of vandalism and trespassing and we are working with the police to identify the perpetrators,’ said Tanya Peterson, president and executive director of the San Francisco Zoological Society.
News of the stolen monkey spread quickly on the Internet Friday, and someone set up a fake Twitter account ‘tracking’ the alleged whereabouts of Banana Sam.
In it the tweeter says: ‘I’ll be at the….the old Doggie Diner! Yeah, that’s where I’ll be. Look there.’
But keen to help the search for the monkey, they add: ‘But seriously guys, if you see me, call the SFPD at 415-553-8090. You get $1,000!’
Common squirrel monkeys like Banana Sam are not endangered, and are often seen in pet markets and medical research.Â
While some states allow keeping monkeys as pets, in California it is illegal.
