Two lacking tamarin monkeys present in closet of deserted house

Jan. 31 (UPI) — A pair of emperor tamarin monkeys, lacking from the Dallas Zoo, have been discovered inside a closet in an deserted house. Police say they’re looking for a person they consider could have stolen the animals.

The tamarins were discovered Tuesday night after investigators obtained a tip that the monkeys could possibly be inside a vacant home about 15 miles away in Lancaster, Texas, in response to the Dallas Police Division.

“Dallas Police, with the assistance of the Lancaster Police Division, situated the 2 lacking tamarin monkeys from the Dallas Zoo at an deserted house in Lancaster,” the Dallas Police Division tweeted exhibiting a photograph of one of many monkeys inside the closet. “The monkeys have been returned to the zoo.”

“On Monday Morning (January 30), Dallas Zoo alerted the Dallas Police Division after the animal care workforce found two of our emperor tamarin moneys had been lacking. It was clear the habitat has been deliberately compromised,” read a post on the Dallas Zoo’s Fb web page.

“Emperor tamarin monkeys would seemingly keep near house,” the put up continued. “Primarily based on the Dallas Police Division’s preliminary evaluation, they’ve motive to consider the tamarins had been taken.”

On Tuesday, the Dallas Police Division posted a surveillance picture of a person they consider could have stolen the monkeys.

“Dallas Police are searching for the general public’s assist in figuring out the pictured particular person. Detectives need to converse with the person in regard to the 2 tamarin monkeys lacking from the Dallas Zoo,” the department tweeted.

The monkeys’ disappearance Monday follows a string of suspicious incidents, together with the non permanent disappearance of a clouded leopard and the dying of a lappet-faced vulture.

Earlier this month a clouded leopard named Nova went lacking from her habitat earlier than being discovered unharmed a number of hours later. Police later said that fencing round Nova’s enclosure had been “deliberately reduce.”

The zoo elevated safety however misplaced an animal lower than two weeks later when a lappet-faced vulture named Pin died unexpectedly. “Circumstances of the dying are uncommon, and the dying doesn’t seem like from pure causes. Given the latest incidents on the Zoo, we alerted the Dallas Police Division,” the Zoo mentioned in a statement on Facebook.

In a put up Tuesday night, the Dallas Zoo shared the information that the monkeys had been recovered safely.

“We’re thrilled past perception to share that our two emperor tamarin monkeys have been discovered. DPD situated the animals early this night, and referred to as our workforce to come back safe and transport the tarmarins again to the zoo,” the Dallas Zoo tweeted. “They are going to be evaluated by our veterinarians this night.”