Knife-wielding monkey that terrorized neighborhood in Brazil is feared to be back

He has got to stop monkeying around.

Residents in the northeastern Brazilian city of Aroazes fear that a monkey who was released into the wild after he was caught sharpening knives and stealing clothes may now be ripping the roofs off of homes and stealing cookies in a new location.

Chico, a small primate who ran amok in the city of Corrente, was released into the wild two months ago. A capuchin monkey, that is said to be similar to Chico, however, was believed spotted last week 532 miles away from his last target city, according to Brazilian news outlet G1.

Aroazes residents reported in recent days that the monkey has shown some restraint, but is still interacting with people. While appearing frightened by human contact, he at times has walked straight up to people to be fed.

A farm owner told the outlet that he spotted the monkey on the property this week and gave him food before he ran off.

A capuchin monkey, that is said to be similar to Chico, the small primate who ran amok six months ago in the city of Corrente, was spotted last week 532 miles away 

Residents captured the monkey and put him in a cage to return him to the wild, but he may have returned to reek havoc on a new municipality 

‘He doesn’t go far, he stays here around the houses,’ he said. ‘The city’s Department of Environment tries to catch him, but he ran away. Today I already had contact with him, I fed him, but he ends up escaping.’

Brazil’s Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources is working with law enforcement and government agencies in the state of Piauí to trap the monkey.

Read Related Also: ‘DeSantis Has Delivered for Florida’

Only then will the Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources be able to confirm whether it is a new monkey that has invaded Azoares, or if it is the same mini menace. 

Chico had a tracking device placed on him after he was released into the forest in October.

If the monkey is not Chico, the agency will have to place him through an extensive rehabilitation process to get him acclimated to the wild. If it turns out to be Chico, they could place him in a zoo.

Chico went viral in June when he was filmed sharpening a knife at a Corrente mall

Brazil’s Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources is working with law enforcement and government agencies in the state of Piauí to trap the monkey and identify it

If the monkey is not Chico, the agency will have to place him through an extensive rehabilitation process to get him acclimated to the wild. If it turns out to be Chico, they could place him in a zoo

Chico went viral in June when he was filmed sharpening a knife at a Corrente mall and would not let it go. 

Residents also spotted him opening water tanks and wandering across the roofs of homes.

Another video showed him beating clothes against the exterior wall if a building.

At the time, Azoares resident Alessandro Gomes said there were neighbors who were afraid to leave the windows and doors of their homes opened over concerns that Chico could break in while others simply laughed at the monkey’s silliness.