The Great Monkey Escape of 1935: When Chaos Hit New York

In 1935, New Yorkers faced an unexpected spectacle: 170 wild rhesus monkeys running amok in a suburb near Staten Island. What started as a routine transfer for experimental purposes turned into a media frenzy and a bizarre chapter in the city’s history.

A Jungle Experiment Gone Awry

The drama began at the so-called “Jungle Camp,” a research facility on Staten Island that housed hundreds of rhesus monkeys for medical experiments. These monkeys were primarily studied for their role in advancing polio vaccines and other medical breakthroughs. On a warm summer day, a routine delivery of new monkeys took an unexpected turn when the animals, far from docile, managed to escape their enclosures. Quick-witted and agile, the monkeys broke free, scattering into the surrounding suburban neighborhoods.

The Jungle Camp staff tried to contain the situation, but their efforts proved futile against the sheer number and energy of the primates. Soon, residents began reporting sightings of monkeys climbing telephone poles, raiding gardens, and even invading homes. What started as a research mishap quickly spiraled into a public spectacle.

Pandemonium Hits Staten Island

The escaped monkeys didn’t just cause a stir — they terrified local residents. People were unprepared to deal with wild animals darting through backyards and alleys. Reports of monkeys stealing food and vandalizing property poured in, adding to the sense of chaos. Some residents armed themselves with sticks and other makeshift weapons, while others stayed indoors, too frightened to venture outside.

The incident drew the attention of local authorities and animal control officers, who launched a massive effort to recapture the primates. The monkeys, however, proved to be surprisingly elusive. Rhesus monkeys are known for their intelligence and agility, and these escapees were no exception. Despite being far from their natural jungle habitat, the monkeys adapted quickly, finding refuge in trees and on rooftops. The chaos even inspired newspaper headlines that referred to the event as a “monkey invasion.”

Lessons Learned from the Monkey Fiasco

The escapade didn’t just provide entertainment for onlookers; it also raised serious questions about the ethical treatment of animals in research. The Jungle Camp faced significant criticism for its inadequate containment measures, and the public began to question the practices surrounding animal experimentation. While some saw the incident as a farcical misadventure, others viewed it as a symbol of the growing tension between scientific progress and ethical responsibility.

After days of frantic efforts, most of the monkeys were eventually recaptured, though a few were believed to have evaded capture altogether, possibly integrating into the wild. The story of the Great Monkey Escape remains a fascinating footnote in New York’s history — a bizarre intersection of science, urban life, and human-animal interaction.