More than day after the Dallas Zoo said its two emperor tamarin monkeys had vanished under suspicious circumstances, the tiny primates have been located by police.
“We are thrilled beyond belief to share that our two emperor tamarin monkeys have been found,” the zoo posted on social media Tuesday night.
Zookeepers noticed the monkeys were gone on Monday morning after their enclosure had been “intentionally compromised.”
“DPD located the animals early this evening, and called our team to come secure and transport the tamarins back to the Zoo,” officials said. “They will be evaluated by our veterinarians this evening.”
We are thrilled beyond belief to share that our two emperor tamarin monkeys have been found. DPD located the animals early this evening, and called our team to come secure and transport the tamarins back to the Zoo. They will be evaluated by our veterinarians this evening. pic.twitter.com/bDd49d3uDc
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo) February 1, 2023
Police said the monkeys were found at an abandoned home in Lancaster, which is south of Dallas.
Investigators worked with Lancaster Police to recover the primates. They shared a photo of one of the monkeys still inside a closet at the house.
Dallas Police, with the help of the Lancaster Police Department, located the two missing tamarin monkeys from the Dallas Zoo at an abandoned home in Lancaster.
— Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) February 1, 2023
Pictured is one of the animals still inside the closet of the house.
The monkeys have been returned to the zoo. pic.twitter.com/vfWj7aAt3T
Earlier Tuesday, Dallas police asked for the public’s help to identify a man detectives wanted to speak with regarding the two missing monkeys.
Police posted a photo of a man carrying a bag of Doritos, but little other information about the investigation.
Dallas Police are looking for the public’s help in identifying the pictured individual. Detectives are looking to speak with the man in regard to the two tamarin monkeys missing from the Dallas Zoo.
— Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) January 31, 2023
Anyone with information- call 214-671-4509. pic.twitter.com/VVvvHFAdgJ
The health status of the monkeys was unclear, but both police and the zoo promised an update on Wednesday.
“We will share an update on the tamarins tomorrow,” the zoo said. “Details about the recovery will come from Dallas PD.”
The zoo provided an update on the status of Bell and Finn on Wednesday.
“Emperor tamarin monkeys, Bella and Finn, were so happy to snuggle into their nest sack here at the Zoo last night!” the zoo said. “Our vet and animal care teams have said, beyond losing a bit of weight, they show no signs of injury.”
Emperor tamarin monkeys, Bella and Finn, were so happy to snuggle into their nest sack here at the Zoo last night! Our vet and animal care teams have said, beyond losing a bit of weight, they show no signs of injury. pic.twitter.com/Nf5DXvGxJX
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo) February 1, 2023
The facility thanked the Dallas police for “quick response and assistance in locating the tamarins.”
“We are pleased that video from our surveillance cameras – which we shared with DPD – seems to have been critical in generating a tip that led to the recovery of the tamarins,” it added.
The zoo has suffered a series of incidents in recent weeks, including the escape of a clouded leopard, death of an endangered vulture and tampering with the enclosure of the langurs — all of the incidents considered suspicious.
That’s why the Dallas Zoo increased its reward to $25,000 from $10,000 for information that leads to the “arrest and indictment of the person(s) responsible for these incidents.”
