VALDOSTA — A city worker reported seeing a monkey Friday in Valdosta.

At approximately 2:30 p.m., “a Valdosta city employee reported seeing a monkey in a yard in the 400 block of River Street,” said VPD Lt. Kari Williams. “The monkey was described as medium brown with spots, and small in size. The monkey was last seen traveling north towards J.L. Lomax Drive.”

Reports of monkey sightings in South Georgia captured people’s imaginations Friday.

The Valdosta Daily Times article on monkey sightings reported from Hahira to Valdosta this week attracted tens of thousands of visitors to the newspaper’s website and Facebook site Thursday night and Friday.

Most posters seemed to find the reports humorous, sharing Mike Myers’ old “Saturday Night Live” Sprockets skit with the line “Touch my monkey.” Another reader shared a video of the monkeys from the Robin Williams’ movie, “Jumanji.”

A few readers speculated the sighted monkey may be the legendary skunk ape, a Bigfoot-type creature reportedly in South Georgia a few years ago.

A few people seemed to use the article to confirm to friends and families they had seen a monkey in the area.

Others commented on seeing a monkey in various locations in town.

The Valdosta Police Department reported again that no one has reported losing a monkey.

Wild Adventures has several monkeys at the theme park, but the park has reported no escapes.

Nearly 20 years ago, a monkey named General Lee escaped from the park and was never recovered, but authorities say that incident is likely unrelated to the sightings reported this week.

The VPD said the Lowndes County 911 Center received eight calls of monkey sightings between Monday and Thursday evening. The first sighting was reported in Hahira. On Thursday, a monkey sighting was reported on Azalea Drive in Valdosta.

“The monkey is described as being about the size of a small to medium-sized dog,” according to the VPD prior to the city worker sighting Friday. “On Sept. 10, Valdosta police officers received several reports of monkey sightings, but officers have not seen the monkey.”

Valdosta State University issued a text alert to students Thursday evening warning them to be on the lookout for a monkey.

While many readers may be amused by the reports, authorities warn residents if sighting a monkey to not approach it and call 911.

“Monkeys are very unpredictable animals. For safety reasons, the Valdosta Police Department encourages anyone who spots the monkey to contact 911 and let the authorities handle this matter,” Williams said.