Two tamarin monkeys disappeared from the Dallas Zoo on Monday, becoming the latest victims in a string of suspicious activity at the zoo this month.
The zoo claimed it believed the emperor tamarin monkeys were stolen rather than escaped after it found that the habitat was "clearly intentionally compromised."
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“Emperor tamarin monkeys would likely stay close to home — the Zoo searched near their habitat and across Zoo grounds and did not locate them,” the zoo said in a statement Monday.
The matter has been referred to the Dallas Police Department, which supported the zoo's suspicion of sabotage in its preliminary investigation, claiming it "believed the animals were intentionally taken from the enclosure,” according to CNN.
A picture of an interested person sought by the police was released on Tuesday, but the person was not identified as a suspect.
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
Monday's disappearance marked the fourth suspicious event at the zoo this month after a clouded leopard named Nova escaped her enclosure on Jan. 13. Nova's enclosure was also intentionally cut, Dallas Police said. She was found later that day near her habitat.
Another incident found the enclosure of the zoo's langur monkeys was also cut, but none of the monkeys escaped their habitat. At the time, police claimed they were not sure the incidents were related, despite the similarities.
The third incident included the death of a vulture. The vulture was discovered dead in its habitat with an unusual wound and injuries that indicated the death was not from natural causes, zoo President and CEO Gregg Hudson said in a news conference last week.
We're so grateful for the support we've received as we comprehend the unexpected loss of our 35-year-old lappet-faced vulture, Pin. Losing him is devastating not only to our Zoo family but also to the conservation efforts of this species. Pin will be missed dearly by everyone. pic.twitter.com/TJEQnT0MG1
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo) January 24, 2023
The zoo has since expanded its security camera coverage, more than doubled its overnight security presence, increased its amount of overnight staff, and limited the abilities of some animals to go outside overnight in response to the incidents.
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Dallas Police said it is collaborating with the United States Fish and Wildlife on its investigations into the suspicious activities. The zoo is currently closed through Wednesday due to inclement weather.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Dallas Zoo for comment.