An actual zoodunit: Monkeys discovered however thriller deepens in Dallas

Two monkeys, who went lacking from their enclosure within the Dallas Zoo, had been discovered Tuesday in an deserted dwelling.

By Associated Press: Two monkeys taken from the Dallas Zoo had been discovered Tuesday in an deserted dwelling after going lacking the day earlier than from their enclosure, which had been lower. But 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 dying of an endangered vulture.

Dallas police mentioned they discovered the 2 emperor tamarin monkeys after getting a tip that they may very well be in an deserted dwelling in Lancaster, situated simply south of the zoo. The animals had been situated, protected, in a closet, after which returned to zoo for veterinary analysis.

Police mentioned earlier Tuesday that they had been nonetheless working to find out whether or not or not the incidents over the previous couple of weeks are associated.

Meanwhile, in Louisiana, officers had been investigating after 12 squirrel monkeys had been taken from a zoo there on Sunday and contemplating whether or not there may very well be a connection.

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 (9/11 kilograms) was discovered later that day close to her habitat.

Police mentioned a reducing device was deliberately used to make the opening in her enclosure. An identical gash additionally was present in an enclosure for langur monkeys, although none received 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, known as the dying “very suspicious” and mentioned the vulture had “a wound,” however declined to present additional particulars.

Hudson mentioned in a information convention following Pin’s dying 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 — had been believed to have been taken after somebody lower a gap of their enclosure.

The following 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 shocked if it seems the monkeys had been taken to be offered. Depending on the customer, she mentioned, a monkey like these may very well be offered 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 food 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 dying has been exhausting on the workers, a zoo official mentioned.

The vulture was “a beloved member of the bird department,” in line with Harrison Edell, the zoo’s government vice chairman for animal care and conservation.

Speaking at a information convention, Edell mentioned Pin was a minimum of 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 dying was not solely a private loss but in addition 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 dying that standard working procedures included over 100 cameras to observe public, workers and exhibit areas, and that quantity had been elevated. Overnight presence of safety and workers was additionally raised.

Where doable, he mentioned, zoo officers restricted the flexibility of animals to go exterior in a single day.

After Nova went lacking, officers mentioned they’d reviewed surveillance video however not what it confirmed.

The zoo was closed Tuesday and Wednesday as a result of storm.

WHAT HAPPENED IN LOUISIANA?

The 12 squirrel monkeys had 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 executed 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 had been nonetheless looking by video recordsdata.

Zoosiana mentioned in a Facebook submit 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 folks earlier than police shot and killed the animal.

Posted By:

Manisha Pandey

Published On:

Feb 1, 2023