Two emperor tamarin monkeys that went missing Monday have been found.
The zoo will now offer a $25,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest and prosecution in this series of suspicious, animal-related incidents at the zoo.
Police said they received a tip the monkeys were in an abandoned Lancaster home Tuesday. Dallas and Lancaster law enforcement found the animals in a closet inside the empty home around 4:50 p.m..
Dallas police believe the monkeys, named Bella and Finn, were taken from their enclosure. There have been no arrests, but police say they've identified a man they want to speak with "in regard to" the incident.
The monkeys were returned to the zoo Tuesday night. After an evaluation by veterinarians, the monkeys are safe aside from losing a bit of weight. Since they were taken off zoo grounds, they will have to remain in quarantine before returning to their habitats, officials said.
Dallas Police, with the help of the Lancaster Police Department, located the two missing tamarin monkeys from the Dallas Zoo at an abandoned home in Lancaster.
— Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) February 1, 2023
Pictured is one of the animals still inside the closet of the house.
The monkeys have been returned to the zoo. pic.twitter.com/vfWj7aAt3T
Earlier this month, an endangered male lappet-faced vulture named Pin was found dead with an unspecified wound.
A week earlier, a 25-pound clouded leopard named Nova went missing from its cage for hours after police and zoo officials said its mesh enclosure was intentionally slashed open. It was later revealed that an enclosure for langur monkeys also appeared to have been cut open at the time, though the animals did not escape.
President and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Dan Ashe released a statement Tuesday.
“Dallas Zoo and its animals are victims of acts, presumably intended to take animals for personal reasons, or worse, to be trafficked," The statement read. "AZA and its entire member community stand squarely with Dallas Zoo and condemn these acts of violence against the Zoo, its animals, and the entire Dallas community."
Got a tip? Email Toluwani Osibamowo at tosibamowo@kera.org.
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