Two tamarin monkeys may have been stolen from the Dallas Zoo Monday in what would be just the latest in a bizarre string of animal-related incidents at the zoo in recent weeks.
Dallas Zoo employees reported the two monkeys missing from their enclosure Monday morning. In a release, zoo officials said emperor tamarin monkeys are likely to stay close to home, but when zoo employees searched near the habitat, the animals didn't turn up.
After a preliminary investigation, police determined the enclosure had been intentionally cut open and now believe the monkeys were stolen.
Emperor tamarin monkeys would likely stay close to home - the Zoo searched near their habitat and across Zoo grounds, and did not locate them. Based on the Dallas Police Department鈥檚 initial assessment, they have reason to believe the tamarins were taken.
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo)
The news comes a little more than a week after a male lappet-faced vulture named Pin was found dead at the zoo. Police and zoo officials said they found the bird "wounded" at the scene on Jan. 21, and its death is being investigated as suspicious.
The bird's death is also being investigated in connection with a leopard named Nova who went missing for hours after its own enclosure was tampered with on Jan. 13. Later that same day, it was discovered that a langur monkey enclosure was cut open, though zoo officials said none of the animals inside escaped.
Police believe those three incidents are related, and a $10,000 reward has been offered for any information leading to an arrest and prosecution.
A police spokesperson said they have not yet determined if the missing tamarins are connected to the previous incidents.
