Dallas: Two monkeys ‘stolen’ from zoo where leopard escaped enclosure

“It was clear that the habitat had been deliberately compromised,” tweeted Dallas Zoo this evening.

The zoo went on to explain, which led officials to believe the monkeys didn’t disappear on their own.

“Angel monkeys would likely stay close to home – the zoo searched near their habitat and throughout the zoo grounds and did not find them.” tweeted the animal park. “Based on the Dallas Police Department’s initial assessment, they have reason to believe the tamarins were stolen.”

The zoo did not immediately share more information and said the matter was being investigated by the police department.

It comes just over two weeks after a clouded leopard escaped from its enclosure at the zoo and the facility was closed to the public during the search. The 20-pound leopard named Nova was found safely near their enclosure later that afternoon.

However, zoo staff found what appeared to be small cuts on the fence of their enclosure.

“We believe this was a premeditated act,” Dallas Police Sergeant Warren Mitchell said.

That wasn’t all that was found at the time.

“Zoo staff showed investigators a similar cut that was found in a habitat that contained a breed of monkey known as langurs,” the police department said.

None of the four langur monkeys escaped their enclosure.

The Dallas Zoo earlier Monday informed visitors that it would be closed due to inclement weather. Shortly before the missing emperor monkeys were announced, the zoo said it was also closed on Tuesday and Wednesday due to freezing conditions.

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