Catching a monkey at the airport: How it happened ACS officer sedated monkey, brought it to safety
SAN ANTONIO – Dawkins, a rhesus macaque monkey, escaped his crate when being unloaded from a flight Monday.
American Airlines cited a malfunction with the monkey's crate.
A huge team of experts from Animal Care Services, the San Antonio Zoo and the San Antonio Airport assembled to get the animal safely back into the crate and to the sanctuary where it was originally headed.
Here's how it all happened:
Dawkins ran from the crate to the secure baggage handling area, where passengers are not allowed.
Baggage machines shut down for the hour Dawkins was loose.
The monkey climbed up into the conveyers, about 16 feet off the ground.
ACS Assistant Director Officer Shannon Sims found a window of opportunity and hit the monkey with a dart gun to sedate it.
Zoo veterinarians tended to Dawkins, assessing its condition and issuing medicine to reverse sedation.
Dawkins is now safe and sound at the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary.
Copyright 2018 by KSAT - All rights reserved.
About the Author Courtney Friedman headshot
Courtney Friedman joined KSAT 12 News in August 2014 and now anchors the News at Noon weekdays, and reports important community stories.
Her reporting often takes on issues including domestic violence, trafficking, foster care, homelessness and suicide awareness. She has an ongoing series called Loving in Fear.
What's happening on KSAT Sports Now this week! ▶ 0:43
What's happening on KSAT Sports Now this week!
South Texas man sets world record for oldest wingsuit jumper ▶ 1:59
South Texas man sets world record for oldest wingsuit jumper
Hill Country flood survivors face new needs as cold weather drives demand for winter essentials ▶ 1:16
Hill Country flood survivors face new needs as cold weather drives demand for winter essentials
San Antonio mom gets holiday homecoming surprise from active-duty military sons ▶ 1:12
San Antonio mom gets holiday homecoming surprise from active-duty military sons
Spurs fans honk horns downtown after win vs. Thunder in NBA Cup semifinals ▶ 0:15
Spurs fans honk horns downtown after win vs. Thunder in NBA Cup semifinals
Residents upset with speeding and lack of crosswalks at West Side intersection ▶ 1:03
Residents upset with speeding and lack of crosswalks at West Side intersection
Abraham Quintanilla, father of music icon Selena, has died, family says ▶ 1:08
Abraham Quintanilla, father of music icon Selena, has died, family says
San Antonio family navigates life separated amid $30K immigration battle ▶ 2:10
San Antonio family navigates life separated amid $30K immigration battle
Skydiver dangles at 15,000 feet after parachute catches on plane's tail ▶ 0:31
Skydiver dangles at 15,000 feet after parachute catches on plane's tail
San Antonio Catholic faithful embark on traditional journey honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe ▶ 1:01
San Antonio Catholic faithful embark on traditional journey honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe
2 dead in shooting at Stone Oak apartment complex, SAPD says ▶ 0:46
2 dead in shooting at Stone Oak apartment complex, SAPD says
🦍 Congo Falls gorilla exhibit at San Antonio Zoo to open this weekend ▶ 1:47
🦍 Congo Falls gorilla exhibit at San Antonio Zoo to open this weekend
SAPOA will not move forward on a ‘no confidence’ vote against SAPD Chief William McManus ▶ 2:11
SAPOA will not move forward on a ‘no confidence’ vote against SAPD Chief William McManus
From San Antonio to Jamaica: North Side restaurant ships donations for Hurricane Melissa relief ▶ 1:35
From San Antonio to Jamaica: North Side restaurant ships donations for Hurricane Melissa relief
Realtor emphasizes strategic pricing in San Antonio’s cooling real estate market ▶ 1:09
Realtor emphasizes strategic pricing in San Antonio’s cooling real estate market
US credit card debt rising slower before Christmas this year compared to 2024, Fed data shows ▶ 1:36
US credit card debt rising slower before Christmas this year compared to 2024, Fed data shows
Roosevelt Avenue’s deadly reputation pushes community plea for immediate safety improvements ▶ 0:37
Roosevelt Avenue’s deadly reputation pushes community plea for immediate safety improvements
Culebra Road ranks among San Antonio’s most dangerous traffic corridors, data shows ▶ 0:59
Culebra Road ranks among San Antonio’s most dangerous traffic corridors, data shows
‘I was devastated’: Woman who lost everything in apartment fire retains attorney ▶ 1:04
‘I was devastated’: Woman who lost everything in apartment fire retains attorney
San Antonio council members express skepticism, caution while discussing possible elections move ▶ 1:01
San Antonio council members express skepticism, caution while discussing possible elections move
🔥 San Antonio, meet your new obsession. 🔥 ▶ 1:06
🔥 San Antonio, meet your new obsession. 🔥
FIRST. EVER. NATIONALS. 🙌 ▶ 2:01
FIRST. EVER. NATIONALS. 🙌
Coca Cola's Classic Christmas takes over Toyota Field in San Antonio ▶ 0:40
Coca Cola's Classic Christmas takes over Toyota Field in San Antonio
Consumer Reports: Instacart’s AI-enabled pricing experiments may be inflating your grocery bill ▶ 1:09
Consumer Reports: Instacart’s AI-enabled pricing experiments may be inflating your grocery bill
Harvey E. Najim partners with SA Food Bank for 3 mega food distributions this month ▶ 0:36
Harvey E. Najim partners with SA Food Bank for 3 mega food distributions this month
Previous photo Next photo