Missing Walterboro monkey wasn’t captured alive, county confirms

WALTERBORO, S.C. (WCSC) - The days-long search for a 15-year-old Japanese Macaque that escaped from his habitat did not have a happy ending, officials with Colleton County have confirmed.

“I can confirm that the monkey was not captured alive,” Deputy County Meagan Utsey said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. It is the first official word from the county since the search ended that the monkey, who was named “Bradley,” had died.

“Bradley” was shot by a homeowner who said their dog was being threatened by the monkey, Utsey said.

The county initially worked to help the owner find Bradley after its escape. But no Colleton County personnel or resources were involved in any incident that may have led to the animal’s death, she said.

“We have no information related to what happened except what the owner has shared with us,” Utsey said.

Bradley had lived in the area for six years, officials said during the search.

Colleton County Animal Services released a statement Sunday saying they received numerous tips regarding Bradley’s whereabouts. However, they also said people who were aware of the escaped monkey via social media were hampering efforts to capture him.

Viewer Kordell Brabham shared a video of the monkey walking across the roof of a storage building in the Walterboro area during the search.

The agency sent out a release on Monday morning stating, “Per his owner, attempts to capture Bradley were successful.” But that release did not state the monkey had not been recovered alive.

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