CNN
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Two emperor tamarin monkeys lacking since Monday from the Dallas Zoo had been discovered alive Tuesday within the closet of an deserted Dallas-area residence, officers stated, and police say they nonetheless need to speak to a sure man in reference to the case.
The monkeys’ retrieval – after officers stated the animals had been believed to have been stolen – is a part of simply the most recent in a string of suspicious incidents this month on the zoo, together with what it stated had been “unusual” circumstances surrounding a vulture’s demise final week.
As for the monkeys: Investigators discovered them after receiving a tip they might be at an deserted residence in Lancaster, a metropolis some 15 miles south of the zoo, Dallas police stated.
“Dallas police, with Lancaster police, went to the home and the home was empty, and the monkeys were found in a closet,” Dallas police advised CNN.
The 2 emperor tamarin monkeys had been thought to have been stolen, after they had been found lacking from their enclosure Monday, the zoo said. Dallas police stated their preliminary investigation discovered the monkeys’ habitat had been deliberately minimize open and “it is believed the animals were intentionally taken from the enclosure.”
“We are thrilled beyond belief to share that our two emperor tamarin monkeys have been found,” the zoo said Tuesday night. “They will be evaluated by our veterinarians this evening.”
Dallas police tweeted a photograph of one of many monkeys contained in the closet, perched atop what gave the impression to be some fencing that additionally was inside. Police haven’t stated how the monkeys got here to be on the residence, and no arrests have been made.

Earlier Tuesday – earlier than they introduced the monkeys had been discovered – Dallas police released surveillance video and a photo of an unidentified man they needed to talk to concerning the case.
Investigators nonetheless need to converse with that man, Dallas police spokesperson Kristin Lowman advised CNN Tuesday night time.
Police haven’t elaborated about why they need to converse to the person, or when the video and picture had been taken.
Within the surveillance video, the person may be seen strolling slowly down a virtually empty zoo sidewalk, trying backwards and forwards as he strikes. A second individual additionally may 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 zoo was closed for Monday as a consequence of inclement weather. The closure was later prolonged by means of Wednesday as a consequence of an ice storm impacting the world, the zoo said.
That is the fourth time this month that the zoo has found its animals or their enclosures might have been tampered with, together with the “unusual” circumstances surrounding the demise of a vulture final week, in keeping 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 “intentionally cut,” police stated.
Whereas the feline was discovered near her habitat later that day, zoo personnel additionally discovered an analogous minimize 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 two incidents are related.”
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 started limiting some animals’ means to go outdoors in a single day, President and CEO Gregg Hudson said.
However lower than two weeks after the primary discoveries, a vulture named Pin was found dead in his habitat. Hudson referred to as the chicken’s demise “suspicious” and stated “an unusual wound and injuries” indicated Pin didn’t die from pure causes.
The zoo is providing a $10,000 reward for info resulting in the arrest and indictment of a suspect within the vulture’s demise.
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.
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