Police have confirmed three baboons escaped from a truck at an animal research facility at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney's inner west — but have now been captured.

Key points: News broke of possible escaped baboons at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital after 5:30pm on Tuesday

News broke of possible escaped baboons at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital after 5:30pm on Tuesday The three baboons on the run have now been re-captured

The three baboons on the run have now been re-captured They were being taken to a medical research facility at the hospital

Details emerged early on Tuesday evening that an alarm had gone up over after baboons — which can attack if they feel threatened — were spotted at a car park attached to the Camperdown hospital.

The baboons reportedly broke free from a truck after being transported from a NSW colony to the hospital, Health Minister Brad Hazzard confirmed.

Mr Hazzard said the incident involved a 15-year-old male baboon accompanied by two females who were "there to keep him calm because tomorrow he was due for a vasectomy".

The animals were not involved in research but had been brought in from the colony in western Sydney for treatment at the facility.

"He cut loose before the big cut," said Mr Hazzard.

"The reason they are doing [the vasectomy] is to allow him to continue to live his life in peace and harmony with his own family and they couldn't have him continuing constantly to breed within the troupe because it presents all sorts of genetic problems.

"The operation will go ahead and then he will be returned to his colony with the two females."

Mr Hazzard said Taronga Zoo handlers had attended to make sure the animals were "well managed".

Mr Hazzard has ordered a full report from NSW Health and the research facility on how the baboons managed to escape.

He said the priority had been for the well-being of the baboons and the safety of the public, but that the baboons had been "impeccably behaved".

It is believed the animals were from the national baboon colony in Wallacia, western Sydney, which is run by the Sydney Local Health District.

Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said the baboons were "medical experimentation survivors" who had made an "escape attempt".

"Tonight several baboons have made an attempted flee to freedom in a desperate attempt to avoid further painful procedures forced upon their bodies against their will," she said on social media.

"These are the hidden faces behind animal experimentation in this country."

NSW Police said: "Just before 5.30pm, officers from Inner West Police Area Command were called to a car park on Missenden Road and Lucas Street, Camperdown, after reports three baboons escaped while being transported.

"They are currently contained, and police are working with experts to safely return them to their facility.

"There is no immediate danger to the public, but people are advised to avoid the area."

Social media span into action with amusing posts about the unusual incident.

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