Waiting for help: a man found a monkey in a pink skirt on the side of the highway (5 photo)
A strange monkey in a pink skirt was found and rescued on the side of a highway in Missouri (USA). The frightened animal ran up to a Jefferson County sheriff's deputy and tugged at his pant leg, begging for help. 
The sheriff's office reported that the 8-kilogram primate escaped from the house where he lived, opening the front door and jumping out into the fresh air last Friday, January 3. Later, law enforcement began receiving complaints about the monkey from local residents. 
"After careful negotiation, we were able to get close enough to control the situation. The monkey came up and tugged at our officer's pant leg, but he didn't know what to do. The funny thing is that the scared animal was willing to be found and returned home," the police department wrote in a humorous Facebook post*.
Monkeys are reportedly not allowed to be kept as pets in Missouri under the state's Wildlife and Forestry Act, as they are considered dangerous wild animals.
However, with a permit, primates can be imported, transported, and sold for commercial purposes, such as at shows, or for scientific research. 
Law enforcement officials noted that the woman who owned the monkey soon contacted them and took the animal home. It is not yet known whether the American woman will be held accountable for breaking the law. 
"This was not a typical day for the officers who patrol Jefferson County. However, they have to cope with any calls," the deputy sheriff told reporters. 
