Suspect arrested in Elmvale Jungle Zoo B&E, but trio of animals still missing

Ontario Provincial Police believe they have their man, but not the animals stolen from a zoo.

On Friday, police said they were looking for a 21-year-old man in connection with this week’s break and enter to the Elmvale Jungle Zoo. Tips helped point them toward an Ottawa man named Alex Perlmutter.

Hours later, they said he had been arrested.

An 18-inch tortoise named Stanley, a black and white lemur named JC, and a baby Gibbon monkey named Agnes, were all stolen sometime overnight Monday after someone cut a hole in a chain link fence.

The trio are worth an estimated $20,000.

Stanley is a beloved attraction at the Elmvale Jungle Zoo. Facebook

They are still no where to be found.

Baby gibbon Agnes eats a specialized diet. She is still missing. Elmvale Jungle Zoo/Facebook

But police finally have a break in the case.

Alex Perlmutter, 21, has been arrested in the case of the missing Elmvale Jungle Zoo animals. Photo: OPP

Zoo staff are distraught over the loss of the animals, but remain hopeful.

“As many of you have have probably seen on the news, a suspect has been arrested in connection with the theft of our babies on Monday,” the facility posted on Facebook. “Thank you everyone for keeping an eye out and spreading the word. We are one step closer to getting Agnes, JC and Stanley home.”

JC the lemur is still missing. Photo: OPP

No motive has been released.

Zoo officials are worried about the wellbeing of the animals.

Help bring baby Agnes home. Elmvale Jungle Zoo/Facebook

They all have specialized diets that can’t normally be found in the wild in Ontario.

About the author

Recovering newspaper reporter.

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