Monkey back on board! Zimm the 'spirited monkey' is caught inside a drainage system after she evaded capture for two days

  • The three-year-old female macaque escaped from her enclosure on Thursday afternoon at Memphis Zoo
  • She was spotted by zoo workers inside a drainage system on the eastern side of the zoo Saturday morning
  • Memphis Zoo Director of Animal Programs Matt Thompson said the monkey is now safe and secure after an 'all-zoo effort' to find her
  • A Twitter account quickly emerged and gained well over 500 followers as Zimm became Memphis' newest celebrity
  • 'I won't let the fame go to my head' said @Zimm901 

By Oliver O'connell For Mailonline and Belinda Robinson

Published: 15:59 EST, 11 July 2015 | Updated: 09:49 EST, 12 July 2015

A 'very spirited' monkey who has been on the run since Thursday has been captured after she evaded zoo workers for two days.

Zimm, a three-year-old female macaque was caught after she was spotted by zoo workers inside a drainage system on the eastern side of Memphis zoo in Tennessee on Saturday morning.

Memphis Zoo Director of Animal Programs Matt Thompson said the monkey is now safe and secure after an 'all-zoo effort' to find her.  

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Capture: Zimm, the 'very spirited' monkey who has been on the run since Thursday has been captured

Care: Zoo workers carefully put Zimm into a cage and then took her to see vets for a check-up

Care: Zoo workers carefully put Zimm into a cage and then took her to see vets for a check-up

Zimm made her bid for freedom at approximately 4 p.m. on Thursday and was caught on camera scaling the wall of her enclosure and then casually strolling across some nearby grass.

After Zimm escaped her enclosure Thursday, she found shelter in drainage pipes underneath the zoo. 

Senior veterinarian Felicia Knight called Zimm a 'very spirited monkey.' 

Zimm was being examined by the veterinarian staff, and will have a brief stay in the zoo's hospital before returning to her enclosure.

The monkey's escape resulted in a Twitter account that racked up more than 1,500 followers.

Employees of Memphis Zoo immediately gave chase and the zoo's emergency plan swung into action.  

Exam: The sneaky Sulawesi macaque was examined by staff at the zoo's hospital after her bold escape 

Exam: The sneaky Sulawesi macaque was examined by staff at the zoo's hospital after her bold escape 

Inspection: Zimm will have a brief stay in the zoo's hospital before returning to her enclosure

Inspection: Zimm will have a brief stay in the zoo's hospital before returning to her enclosure

Zimm escaped on Thursday afternoon and soon had a twitter parody account that taunted Memphis Zoo

Zimm escaped on Thursday afternoon and soon had a twitter parody account that taunted Memphis Zoo

The zoo was confident that it would recapture Zimm

The zoo was confident that it would recapture Zimm

Visitors in the area around 'Primate Canyon' were quickly herded inside as the search commenced.

Zoo officials say Zimm, who weighs about 10 pounds and is described as harmless, ran into a storm drain on the property.

'Because she's out of her comfort zone, she's scared,' Director of Animal Programs Matt Thompson told WMC Action News 5. 'So she's probably hunkered down in a little spot where we can't see her.'

She slept the night in the drain and may not come out until later on Friday.

Zimm, a three-year-old, 10lb, macaque, was described as harmless after her escape

Zimm, a three-year-old, 10lb, macaque, was described as harmless after her escape

Search party: Memphis Zoo Director of Animal Programs Matt Thompson said the monkey is now safe and secure after an 'all-zoo effort' to find her

Search party: Memphis Zoo Director of Animal Programs Matt Thompson said the monkey is now safe and secure after an 'all-zoo effort' to find her

Visitors had to cleared from the area in which Zimm escaped as part of the zoo's emergency plan

Visitors had to cleared from the area in which Zimm escaped as part of the zoo's emergency plan

Zoo officials have narrowed down Zimm's location to a nearby storm drain and are prepared to wait for her to emerge on Friday 

Zoo officials have narrowed down Zimm's location to a nearby storm drain and are prepared to wait for her to emerge on Friday 

A local news crew watched as zoo workers tracked Zimm to a nearby storm drain

A local news crew watched as zoo workers tracked Zimm to a nearby storm drain

The zoo tweeted: 'Sleep well, little macaque. We'll have you home soon.'

Zoo workers are baffled as to exactly how she got out.

Overnight Zimm has become a local hero, being pursued by local TV news crews and quickly gaining well over 500 followers on Twitter.

'I won't let the fame go to my head' said @Zimm901.

Zimm's Twitter account has over 500 followers as of Friday morning

Zimm's Twitter account has over 500 followers as of Friday morning

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