The Texas Biomedical Research Institute on Loop 410 on the city's northwest side is widely known as the 'place with the monkeys,' and on Saturday, four of those monkeys decided to take a walk, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Four baboons who live at the Institute's Southwest National Primate Research Center got out of their enclosures, and three of them were able to also get out of the perimeter fencing.
Crews captured the three that got out of the property within 20 minutes, and located the fourth inside the center.
All of the animals have been checked out by veterinary staff and were not injured. Its not clear how the animals were able to get out.
According to the SNPRC's web site, there are 2900 primates housed at the center, including some 1100 baboons. They are kept in natural enclosures and regularly checked out by veterinary staff. It is the largest colony of research baboons in the country.
The baboons are mainly used for genetic research into diseases such as insulin resistance, obesity, heart disease, hypertension and osteoporosis. There is also a colony of 'retired' research animals on the site.
(Stock Photo: Getty Images)