Monkey on the Loose After Fire at Exotic Rescue in Pa.

Volunteers at an exotic animal rescue in southern Pennsylvania are still looking for a monkey that got loose and ran away during a fire that destroyed the facility.

The East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue along Zoo Road in Fairfield, Adams County — about 10 miles west of Gettysburg — burned down early Saturday. Two residents escaped, and most of the animals were saved from the fire. Two cats died.

A Capuchin monkey named Bug escaped from his carrier during the rescue and ran into the woods. He remained missing on Sunday.

“He's special to us, and finding him is our number one priority,” volunteer Melissa Bishop told pennlive.com.

The rescue group provides long-term homes for exotic animals including tigers, monkeys and tropical birds. It posted a photo of Bug Murray to its Facebook page with this message:

“We were able to save him from the fire but he escaped in fear of the fire and people and trucks. He was spotted on the property and most likely will stay on the property but in the remote chance he wanders… please call us immediately,” read the post.

Fairfield Fire Chief Adam Jacobs said the fire was likely caused by a wireless router that shorted out and ignited papers.

The fire appeared to do about $100,000 in damage, according to Jacobs.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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