CNN
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[Breaking news top, published at 8:xx p.m ET]
Two emperor tamarin monkeys lacking from the Dallas Zoo have been discovered within the closet of an deserted house in a suburb south of Dallas after investigators obtained a tip, police stated Tuesday.
“Dallas police obtained a tip the monkeys could also be at an deserted house in Lancaster,” the division stated Tuesday night. “Dallas police, with Lancaster police, went to the house and the house was empty and the monkeys have been present in a closet.”
Police earlier tweeted a photograph of a person they stated they wished to talk to in reference to the animals’ disappearance. Investigators nonetheless need to converse with that man, Dallas police spokesperson Kristin Lowman advised CNN Tuesday evening.
Police haven’t elaborated about why they need to converse to the person, and no arrests have been made.
Lancaster is a metropolis roughly a 15-mile drive south of the zoo.
[Original story, published at 7:51 p.m. ET]
Two emperor tamarin monkeys lacking from the Dallas Zoo have been discovered Tuesday, the zoo stated.
“We’re thrilled past perception to share that our two emperor tamarin monkeys have been discovered,” the zoo stated in an announcement.
Dallas police positioned the animals early Tuesday night, the zoo stated, with out instantly releasing particulars about how they have been discovered. The zoo earlier stated the animals have been believed to have been stolen Monday.
Police “known as our staff to come back safe and transport the tamarins again to the Zoo,” the zoo stated. The monkeys will probably be evaluated by veterinarians Tuesday night, in accordance with the zoo.
Dallas police earlier stated its preliminary investigation discovered the emperor tamarin monkeys’ habitat had been deliberately lower open and “it’s believed the animals have been deliberately taken from the enclosure.”
Police had additionally launched surveillance video and a photograph of an unidentified man they wished to talk to in regard to the 2 lacking tamarin monkeys. “Dallas police are on the lookout for the general public’s assist in figuring out the pictured particular person,” they wrote.
Within the surveillance video, the person will be seen strolling slowly down a virtually empty zoo sidewalk, trying forwards and backwards as he strikes. A second individual additionally will be seen within the background, however that individual walks in the wrong way.
Within the nonetheless picture, the person is carrying a navy blue hooded sweatshirt and a navy and pink beanie cap and is consuming a bag of Doritos.
The investigation comes after a collection of suspicious animal incidents this month on the Dallas Zoo. The zoo stated it believed two of its emperor tamarin monkeys have been stolen after they have been found lacking from their enclosure Monday.
“Emperor tamarin monkeys would seemingly keep near house – the Zoo searched close to their habitat and throughout Zoo grounds and didn’t find them,” the zoo stated in an announcement Monday.
Earlier Monday, the zoo stated it will be closed for the day attributable to inclement climate. The closure was later prolonged by Wednesday attributable to an ice storm impacting the realm, the zoo stated.
That is the fourth time this month that the zoo has found its animals or their enclosures could have been tampered with, together with the “uncommon” circumstances surrounding the dying of a vulture final week, in accordance with the zoo.
The string of occasions started January 13 when a clouded leopard named Nova disappeared, prompting the zoo to shut as they looked for the animal. Dallas police opened a prison investigation after it was found that the fence round Nova’s enclosure had been “deliberately lower,” police stated.
Whereas the feline was discovered near her habitat later that day, zoo personnel additionally discovered an identical lower had been made to the enclosure of some langur monkeys. Regardless of the brand new escape route, not one of the monkeys left their habitat, the zoo stated. Police stated on the time that it was “unknown if the 2 incidents are associated.”
Following the incidents, the zoo put in further safety cameras, greater than doubled its in a single day safety personnel, elevated its in a single day staffing, and commenced limiting some animals’ means to go exterior in a single day, President and CEO Gregg Hudson stated.
However lower than two weeks after the primary discoveries, a vulture named Pin was discovered useless in his habitat. Hudson known as the chook’s dying “suspicious” and stated “an uncommon wound and accidents” indicated Pin didn’t die from pure causes.
We’re so grateful for the help we have obtained as we comprehend the surprising lack of our 35-year-old lappet-faced vulture, Pin. Shedding him is devastating not solely to our Zoo household but in addition to the conservation efforts of this species. Pin will probably be missed dearly by everybody. pic.twitter.com/TJEQnT0MG1
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo) January 24, 2023
The zoo is providing a $10,000 reward for data resulting in the arrest and indictment of a suspect within the vulture’s dying.
Dallas police are investigating all 4 incidents. A spokesperson stated final week that the division is collaborating with US Fish and Wildlife on the investigations.