VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A Volusia County woman is accused of having a rhesus macaque as a pet, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The FWC said 71-year-old Ruth Gordon was not licensed to have the monkey as a pet.
FWC officers said the cage the rhesus macaque was in did not meet the standards required for a cage.
The monkey appeared to be healthy, according to the FWC.
Gordon's house did not meet the standards to keep the monkey as a pet, according to investigators.
Investigators said the suspect got the animal from a wildlife dealer who did not have a permit to sell a rhesus macaque.
The wildlife report revealed Gordon put the macaque in a small dog crate during the night to sleep.
Investigators said the suspect got the animal from a Tampa primate dealer for $5,000 in 2017, who did not have a permit to sell a rhesus macaque.
Gordon surrendered ownership of the exotic animal on March 5 and it was taken to a licensed facility.
She was given a citation for illegal possession of class II wildlife.
The monkey appeared to be healthy, according to the FWC.