Last week, multiple Vervet monkeys, which are native to sub-Saharan Africa, were spotted roaming the streets of St. Louis, Missouri, alarming officials. “This is the first time we’ve had a situation dealing with monkeys at large in the city of St. Louis,” Department of Health environmental bureau chief Justen Hauser told NBC News-affiliate KSDK on January 9. Experts at the St. Louis Zoo have since joined the efforts, warning that residents should leave the monkeys alone. “The monkeys can be intelligent but also unpredictable at times,” Hauser told KSDK last week. More on escaped monkeys: University Denies Monkeys That Escaped in Truck Crash Were Infected With Horrific Diseases