Baboon Seen on the Loose in New Jersey

July 1, 2010 -- A baboon has been seen on the loose in the Garden State.

There have been at least four sightings, according to Jackson, N.J., police, and officers are still working to track down the primate.

"We do dispatch officers to each of the resident calls, but none of the officers have observed the animal," said Capt. David Newman of the Jackson Police Department. "He's been on the move."

The baboon was first seen along Interstate 195 at 2:10 p.m. on Thursday, Newman said.

The second sighting came from a woman who said a baboon was sitting on her back porch on Jackson.

The animal was last seen at 10:50 a.m. on a residential road called Buttonwood Drive in the town.

Sgt. Edward Bennett said police are still uncertain where the baboon came from.

There is speculation the baboon could have escaped from the nearby Six Flags Great Adventure's Monkey Jungle.

All of the park's baboons are vaccinated and microchipped, but are not counted every night because they sleep outside in a large enclosure, Great Adventure spokeswoman Kristin Siebeneicher told the Asbury Park Press.

Monkey Jungle is home to 150 baboons and it would be difficult to tell if one is missing, she said.

Anyone who spots the roaming baboon should call police and not approach the animal, even though baboons are not typically aggressive, officials said.