Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 4, 1995 TAG: 9506050063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Charlie Harvey said Jasper, who is valued at $3,000 and has lived at the store for 11 years, was discovered to be missing from his room about 7 p.m. He was part of an elaborate display of exotic animals.
Jasper is about 3 feet tall, bronze-colored, with a tattoo on his left leg. There is some darker coloration in his fur that matches his dark eyes, Harvey said.
The 12-year-old monkey has been known to climb into the ceiling, but Harvey said a check of the entire space with a flashlight turned up nothing.
Harvey said he believes someone came into the store, took the monkey from his room and left through a rear door.
``[Jasper] has his own room, and we were completely remodeling it for him today,'' Harvey said.
Harvey asks that anyone with information on the monkey's whereabouts call the store at 366-7010 and inform any manager. The store is open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.
Information also can be called into the Roanoke Police Department, which has Harvey's emergency beeper number.
Harvey also asks that people who find the monkey not handle him, because they likely will get bitten.
``He's going to be scared,'' he said.
Harvey suggests enticing and calming the monkey with grapes - his favorite fruit - or apples, cantaloupe and watermelon. Then, call the store or police.
``But no bananas, please,'' Harvey said. ``Jasper doesn't like bananas.''
by CNB