Suspect arrested over Dallas Zoo monkey and leopard crimes

Police believe two emperor tamarin monkeys - shown here in a file photo - were taken

A suspect has been arrested in connection with a string of suspicious incidents at the Dallas Zoo.

Davion Irvin, 24, is charged with the theft of two emperor tamarin monkeys.

Police have also linked him to sabotage of the enclosures of a snow leopard and langur monkeys. A fourth incident, the death of an endangered vulture, is still being investigated.

The two emperor tamarin monkeys were taken from the zoo on Monday and later found in a closet at an abandoned home.

The primates, Bella and Finn, were returned to the zoo on Wednesday.

"We are thrilled beyond belief to share that our two emperor tamarin monkeys have been found," the zoo said in a statement.

Police identified Mr Irvin as a person of interest earlier this week after he was spotted near the monkey cages at around the time they went missing.

They said they believed someone had cut an opening in the habitat and taken the two primates. On Thursday, an employee at the Dallas World Aquarium saw him asking questions about one of the animals at the attraction, and reported him to police.

Now police believe he is involved with at least three out of the four suspicious events that took place at the Dallas Zoo in January, leaving the public and members of the zoological community scratching their heads.

Police have charged him with burglary after a hole was cut in the enclosure of a young clouded leopard, allowing it to escape. It was later found safely.

They have also linked Mr Irvin with sabotage to the enclosure of langur monkeys, though none got out.

He has been charged with six counts of animal cruelty connected to the theft of the emperor tamarin monkeys, three for each monkey, and charged with a count of burglary in connection to their theft.

"Further charges are possible," police said in a statement.

He has not been linked with the death of an endangered vulture, who was found dead in its enclosure with an "unusual wound". The bird was one of only 6,500 on the planet and its death was deemed "very suspicious".

Police say they are still investigating that incident.

Zoo staff said losing the 35-year-old lappet-faced vulture called Pin was devastating, adding he would be "missed dearly by everyone".

In an interview with the BBC, Ed Hanson, the CEO of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, said that this many incidents in just over three weeks was "highly, highly unusual".

On average, he said most zoos will experience one theft every five years. The most common animals to be stolen are reptiles and birds, he said.

Primates, including emperor tamarin monkeys, require very specific care.

"It's not something you can steal, place in a cage in your living room and feed a banana," he said.

With additional reporting from Imogen James