Mario is a three-year-old brown capuchin monkey who was reported running loose in Jacksonville, Florida on June 18, 2007. After Mario was captured, the authorities discovered that he was being kept illegally and had no cage. Mario is being held in protective custody by Jungle Friends until the courts decide what will become of him.

Unfortunately, monkeys are legal ‘pets’ in Florida, so the ‘owners’ can reclaim Mario if they get a license and build a cage. Sadly, a cage for two capuchin monkeys is only required to be 6' x 8' x 6', very small considering a monkey can jump about 20' and prefers living high up in the trees!

Mario is quite rambunctious and just wants to play! Our hope is that the ‘owners’ will realize that Mario belongs with other monkeys and will let him stay at Jungle Friends where he can have a monkey family, or that the courts will find Jungle Friends to be a more suitable home for little Mario.