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DALLAS (AP) — Two monkeys taken from the Dallas Zoo have been discovered Tuesday in an deserted house after going lacking the day earlier than from their enclosure, which had been lower. However no arrests have been made, deepening the thriller on the zoo that has included different lower fences, the escape of a small leopard and the suspicious loss of life of an endangered vulture.
Dallas police mentioned they discovered the 2 emperor tamarin monkeys after getting a tip that they might be in an deserted house in Lancaster, situated simply south of the zoo. The animals have been situated, protected, in a closet, after which returned to zoo for veterinary analysis.
Police mentioned earlier Tuesday that they have been nonetheless working to find out whether or not or not the incidents over the previous couple of weeks are associated.
In the meantime, in Louisiana, officers have been investigating after 12 squirrel monkeys have been taken from a zoo there on Sunday and contemplating whether or not there might be a connection.
Right here’s what is thought to date concerning the incidents:
WHAT HAS HAPPENED AT THE DALLAS ZOO?
The zoo closed Jan. 13 after employees arriving that morning discovered that the clouded leopard, named Nova, was lacking. After a search that included police, the leopard weighing 20-25 kilos (Sep 11 kilograms) was discovered later that day close to her habitat.
Police mentioned a reducing instrument was deliberately used to make the opening in her enclosure. A similar gash also was found in an enclosure for langur monkeys, although none acquired out or appeared harmed, police mentioned.
On Jan. 21, an endangered lappet-faced vulture named Pin was discovered useless by arriving employees. Gregg Hudson, the zoo’s president and CEO, referred to as the loss of life “very suspicious” and mentioned the vulture had “a wound,” however declined to present additional particulars.
Hudson mentioned in a information convention following Pin’s loss of life that the vulture enclosure didn’t look like tampered with.
On Monday police mentioned the 2 emperor tamarin monkeys — which have lengthy whiskers that appear like a mustache — have been believed to have been taken after somebody lower a gap of their enclosure.
The next day police launched a photograph and video of a person they mentioned they needed to speak to concerning the monkeys. The picture reveals a person consuming Doritos chips whereas strolling, and within the video clip he’s seen strolling down a path.
WHAT COULD BE THE MOTIVE IN TAKING THE MONKEYS?
Lynn Cuny, founder and president of Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation in Kendalia, Texas, mentioned she wouldn’t be stunned if it seems the monkeys have been taken to be bought. Relying on the customer, she mentioned, a monkey like these might be bought for “several thousands” of {dollars}.
“Primates are high-dollar animals in the wildlife pet trade in this country,” Cuny mentioned. “Everybody that wants one wants one for all the wrong reasons — there’s never any good reason to have any wild animal as a pet.”
She mentioned there have been a wide range of methods the taken monkeys may have been in peril, from an improper weight-reduction plan to publicity to chilly. Temperatures in Dallas dipped into the 20s on Tuesday throughout a winter storm.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE VULTURE?
Pin’s loss of life has been onerous on the employees, a zoo official mentioned.
The vulture was “a beloved member of the bird department,” in line with Harrison Edell, the zoo’s government vp for animal care and conservation.
Talking at a information convention, Edell mentioned Pin was not less than 35 years outdated and had been on the zoo for 33 years. “A lot of our teams have worked closely with him for all of that time,” Edell mentioned.
Pin, considered one of 4 lappet-faced vultures on the zoo, was mentioned to have sired 11 offspring, and his first grandchild hatched in early 2020.
Edell mentioned Pin’s loss of life was not solely a private loss but additionally a loss for the species, which “could potentially go extinct in our lifetime.”
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT SECURITY?
Hudson, the zoo’s CEO, mentioned in a information convention following Pin’s loss of life that standard working procedures included over 100 cameras to observe public, employees and exhibit areas, and that quantity had been elevated. In a single day presence of safety and employees was additionally raised.
The place doable, he mentioned, zoo officers restricted the power of animals to go exterior in a single day.
After Nova went lacking, officers mentioned that they had reviewed surveillance video however not what it confirmed.
The zoo was closed Tuesday and Wednesday because of the storm.
WHAT HAPPENED IN LOUISIANA?
The 12 squirrel monkeys have been found lacking Sunday from their enclosure at a zoo within the state’s southeast.
Their habitat at Zoosiana in Broussard, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) west of Baton Rouge, had been “compromised” and a few harm was achieved to get in, metropolis Police Chief Vance Olivier mentioned Tuesday. He declined to supply additional particulars on the harm, citing the continued investigation.
He mentioned police didn’t have any suspects but however have been nonetheless looking out by way of video recordsdata.
Zoosiana mentioned in a Fb put up that the remaining monkeys have been assessed and seem unhurt.
HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS BEFORE AT THE DALLAS ZOO?
In 2004, a 340-pound (154-kilogram) gorilla named Jabari jumped over a wall and went on a 40-minute rampage that injured three individuals earlier than police shot and killed the animal.
Related Press author Paul J. Weber contributed to this report from Austin, Texas.
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