The federal government is now involved in the case of Jorgie Boy, the spider monkey at the center of a custody battle in North Texas.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service demanded that the monkey be surrendered, just a day after it was returned to North Texas social media influencer Brandi Botello, the original owner of the primate. The monkey had been taken away from Botello by Dallas police and placed in an animal shelter following an alcohol-related car crash in November.
According to Botello’s attorney, the agency is investigating her purchase of Jorgie Boy. Agents said Botello could surrender the monkey, or they would get a warrant to seize it. Jorgie Boy would be placed at a federally licensed facility during the investigation.
In response to an inquiry from CBS News Texas, Christina Meister, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said, “We do not have any comments to share at this time.”