CNN
—
Two emperor tamarin monkeys missing from the Dallas Zoo since Monday were found alive Tuesday in the closet of an abandoned Dallas-area home, authorities said, and police say they still want to speak to a specific man in connection with the case.
The rescue of the monkeys – after authorities said the animals were believed to have been stolen – is the latest in a string of caps. Suspicious incidents This month at the zoo, including the “unusual” circumstances surrounding the death of an eagle last week.
As for the monkeys: Dallas police said investigators found them after receiving a tip that they might be in an abandoned house in Lancaster, about 15 miles south of the zoo.
“Dallas police, along with Lancaster police, went to the home and found the house empty and monkeys in a closet,” Dallas police told CNN.
Two emperor tamer monkeys were presumed stolen after they were discovered missing from a zoo on Monday. said. Dallas police said in their preliminary investigation that the monkeys’ habitat was intentionally cut and “the animals are believed to have been intentionally taken from the enclosure.”
“We are incredibly excited to share the discovery of our two emperor tiger monkeys,” the zoo said. said Tuesday evening. “They will be evaluated by our vets this evening.”
Tuesday — before they announced the monkeys had been found — by Dallas police He posted a surveillance video and A Photograph They wanted to speak to an unidentified man about the case.
Investigators still want to speak with the man, Dallas police spokeswoman Christine Lowman told CNN Tuesday night.
Police did not elaborate on why they wanted to speak with the man or when the video and footage were taken, and no arrests have been made.
In surveillance video, the man can be seen walking slowly down the corridors of the nearly empty zoo, looking back and forth as he moves. A second person can also be seen in the background, but that person is walking in the opposite direction.
In the still image, the man is wearing a navy blue hooded sweatshirt and a navy and red beanie hat and is eating a bag of Doritos.
There was a zoo Closed Due on Monday Bad weather. The closure was extended into Wednesday as the snowstorm impacted the area Zoo said.
This is the fourth time this month that a zoo may have had its animals or their enclosures vandalized. “extraordinary” According to the zoo, the circumstances surrounding the death of an eagle last week.
The string of events began on January 13 A clouded leopard named Noah has disappeared, prompting the zoo to close while they search for the animal. Dallas police launched a criminal investigation after it was discovered that the fence surrounding Noah’s enclosure had been “deliberately cut.”
Although the cat was found near her residence later that day, zoo workers also found a similar cut. Enclosure of some langur monkeys. Despite the new escape route, none of the monkeys escaped their habitat, the zoo said. It is not known if the two incidents are related,” police said at the time.
Following the incidents, the zoo installed additional security cameras, doubled its overnight security staff, increased its overnight staffing and began restricting the ability of some animals to go out overnight, president and CEO Greg Hudson said. said.
But within two weeks of the first discoveries, there was an eagle named Pin He was found dead at his residence. Hudson said the bird’s death was “suspicious” and pointed out that it did not die of natural causes after “an unusual wound and injuries”.
The zoo is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of a suspect in the eagle’s death.
Dallas police are investigating all four incidents. A spokeswoman said last week that the department is cooperating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the investigation.
“Friend of animals everywhere. Devoted analyst. Total alcohol scholar. Infuriatingly humble food trailblazer.”