For several weeks there have been mysterious incidents at the zoo in Dallas (USA): a big cat escaped from an enclosure, a vulture was killed and two monkeys were stolen. The suspected monkey thief has now been caught by the police.
Police have arrested a 24-year-old in connection with the mysterious disappearance of two emperor tamarins from the city’s zoo, officials said on Friday. The monkeys themselves disappeared on Monday, but were discovered the next day in a closet in a vacant house in a suburb of Dallas.
Dallas: Monkeys missing from zoo – suspected thief caught
According to media reports, the arrested person is said to have lived in the house without authorization. Police said he was accused of animal cruelty. The two primates had lost a little weight but were otherwise doing well, the zoo had previously said on Twitter.
The Dallas Zoo sign welcomes visitors. dpa/AP | Tony Gutierrez
Police hope the arrest could shed light on a series of mysterious incidents that have caused a stir at the Dallas Zoo in recent weeks. According to media reports, a clouded leopard had already escaped from its enclosure in mid-January. The leopard-like feline escaped through a hole in the fence that police say was intentionally cut into the perimeter. The animal was sighted and captured a little later.
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However, just a week later, the zoo made a sad discovery: a critically endangered lappet-faced vulture was found dead. The 35-year-old bird did not die of natural causes, it said. The zoo then installed additional surveillance cameras. (dpa/mp)
