Two monkeys were reported missing from the Dallas Zoo in what appeared to be an intentional act, officials said Monday afternoon.
The zoo alerted the Dallas Police Department early on Monday after its animal-care team found that two emperor tamarin monkeys were not in their enclosure.
“It was clear the habitat had been intentionally compromised,” officials said in a statement shared on social media.
“Based on the Dallas Police Department’s initial assessment, they have reason to believe the tamarins were taken,” the statement added.
Later on Tuesday, investigators released surveillance video and the photo of an unnamed man who was filmed at the zoo likely around the time the monkeys disappeared.
“Dallas Police are looking for the public’s help in identifying the pictured individual,” officers wrote in a news release. “Detectives are looking to speak with the man in regard to the two tamarin monkeys missing from the Dallas Zoo.”
The man is wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and a red-and-blue cap as he walks slowly while eating a bag of Doritos.
Emperor tamarin monkeys normally like to say close to home, but zoo staff could not find them after searching near their enclosure as well as across zoo grounds.
The incident marked the third time in less than three weeks that Dallas police were called to investigate suspicious activity at Texas’ oldest and largest zoological park.
Earlier this month, the 106-acre zoo closed its doors to the public after an adult clouded leopard went missing, in an incident described by zookeepers as a “serious situation.”
“One of our clouded leopards was not in its habitat when the team arrived this morning and is unaccounted for at this time,” the zoo said on social media early on Jan. 13.
Nora, the missing wildcat, was located “on-grounds at the zoo” just after 4:30 p.m., local time.
About a week later, officials announced the death of one of the zoo’s endangered vultures. Pin, a 35-year-old lappet-faced vulture, died under what was described as “unusual” circumstances.
Pin’s death did not “appear to be from natural causes,” the Dallas Zoo said in a statement, adding that DPD officers were investigating the incident.
“We want everyone to know how seriously we take the safety and security of our animals, our staff, and our campus as a whole,” the zoo said on social media on Jan. 22.
“In the past week, we have added additional cameras throughout the Zoo and increased onsite security patrols during the overnight hours,” officials said. “We will continue to implement and expand our safety and security measures to whatever level necessary to keep our animals and staff safe.”
