Monkey in a Bag
Press & Happenings
January 21, 2008
On January 21, a Transportation Security Officer got quite a surprise as he viewed a passenger's bag in the X-ray machine and saw what appeared to be a live animal. When asked about it, the passenger replied, "Yes, I am transporting a monkey!"
The man was carrying a four-week old Capuchin monkey asleep inside a cage and holding a stuffed toy koala. The man stated he was transporting the infant monkey, born in Pennsylvania, to Ft. Lauderdale to be paired with a new mother in captivity. After checking the man's story and coordination with the Port Authority Police, the CDC, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and the airlines, the monkey and passenger were allowed to travel together in the cabin.
TSA Travel Tip: When traveling with an animal, please be sure to check with your airline to ensure you meet all regulations. At the checkpoint, please remove all animals from their carrying cases and send the case through the X-ray machine. Hold your pet in your arms and proceed through the metal detector.
