Banana Sam, Monkey Once Abducted, Dies At 19
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David Paul Morris/Getty Images(SAN FRANCISCO) — Banana Sam, the monkey that gained world notoriety after he was abducted from the San Francisco Zoo, has died at 19-years-old.
The San Francisco Zoo said the black and orange squirrel monkey passed away on Thursday from complications related to heart disease.
“Banana Sam was a beloved member of the San Francisco Zoo and he will be missed by staff, volunteers, and visitors,” the zoo said in a statement.
The squirrel monkey was the subject of a harrowing search two years ago when he was reported missing from his enclosure on Dec. 30, 2011.
Zoo officials quickly found signs of a break-in: two holes cut in the wire mesh cage and the chain on the perimeter fence cut.
The monkey-hunt came to an end on New Year’s Eve when Banana Sam was safely returned to the zoo.
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