Circus monkey's brief run at freedom over

Livvie the monkey saw her chance, and said goodbye to the circus.

But it didn't take long to decide freedom wasn't for her.

The 23-year-old rhesus macaque from the Lennon Bros Circus made a run for it in Sydney's south on Sunday.

St George Police Inspector Rob Stark said a trainer had left a gate at the circus ajar and Livvie "tasted freedom".

Police feared Livvie was still on the run on Monday afternoon, but her owners have since assured AAP the monkey's breakout lasted only a few hours.

Jan Lennon said Livvie seized her chance when a trainer was returning her pal, Bubbles the pony-rider, to his cage.

"He turned his back and she took off through the door," she said.

"A bit of a panic set in for a while (but) she couldn't have been too far away."