Monkeys + Pants = Conviction

Smuggling endangered species into the country isn’t funny, although monkeys in your underwear is worth a chuckle or two:

A man nabbed with two endangered pygmy monkeys in his pants after his flight from Thailand landed at Los Angeles International Airport pleaded guilty Tuesday to smuggling protected wildlife.

In entering his plea, Robert John Cusack, 45, of Palm Springs, acknowledged that he carried the monkeys, called lesser slow lorises, in the crotch area of his underwear on a Korean Air flight June 13.

The animals, which can range in size from 6 to 10 inches, primarily live in the rain forests of Southeast Asia.

….Johns said Cusack denied having anything hidden on his body but was ordered to undress.

“When Mr. Cusack removed his pants (inspectors) found two pygmy lorises in the crotch area of his underwear, much to the shock and amazement of the inspectors,” Johns said.

“Despite the travails of being in that location for the entire flight, the little critters were in surprisingly good condition.” The pygmy monkeys are housed at the Los Angeles Zoo and will become part of the slow loris exhibit there, Johns said. [Daily Breeze]

You’ve heard tale of the elusive crotch monkey – now there is proof.