WALTERBORO, S.C. — Deputies and the Colleton County Animal Services team are on the alert in the Walterboro community for a missing primate.
The Colleton County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook that it is aware of the loose primate and that it was last seen in the Mallard Street area of Walterboro.
"The owner is attempting to capture it and has called in assistance," the sheriff's office said.
In an email, the sheriff's office explained that their team did not have specifics on exactly what type of primate the animal was but said that the owner has a team working with him to locate it.
"We had issues with it being chased or run off by citizens, making it difficult for the owner to capture him, so we are asking the public not to approach the animal and only report sightings," a sheriff's office spokesperson said.
Barbara Taylor, a resident in the Mallard Street area where the primate has been said to be roaming, says she came face-to-face with the animal on Friday.
"I came out to my car to get my pocketbook out, and I happened to look back, and I said, 'Oh my God,' and he was standing right up under my metal carport right there," Taylor said. "Then he started walking toward the truck, and I just shut the door fast and climbed over to the driver seat, and I just pulled off because my phone was in the house... My heart is still beating fast, and my head is still hurting."
Photos and videos of the animal surfaced on social media as the search continues.
The Colleton County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said there is also a report of it attempting to attack a resident's dog in a yard, leading to a call for neighbors to monitor their pets if they are outdoors. Anyone with information about the creature can call the sheriff's office at 843-549-2211.
The sheriff's office said it would provide an update once the animal is captured.