Emperor Tamarin. Photo courtesy of the Dallas Zoo.
Nearly three weeks after two tamarin monkeys were taken from the Dallas Zoo, the monkeys were returned to their enclosure Sunday, the zoo said in a Tweet.
Zoo officials said that because Bella and Finn were removed from the zoo grounds, a quarantine period was necessary to ensure the monkeys were in good health. The monkeys were taken on Jan. 30 and found a day later in an abandoned home in Lancaster, Texas.
24-year-old Davion Irvin was arrested Feb. 2 in connection with the taken monkeys and tears to monkey and leopard enclosures found earlier in the month of January.
Emperor tamarin monkeys, Bella and Finn, are finally back home in their habitat at the Lacerte Family Children's Zoo. pic.twitter.com/40OjBcEMII
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo) February 21, 2023
On Tuesday morning, zoo officials briefed city staff on increased security measures that have been installed in response to the break-ins.
Dallas Zoo Chief Operating Officer Sean Greene described the events as “unacceptable” when presenting to the quality of life, arts and culture committee.
Greene says more cameras, lighting with motion detection and barbed wire on fencing are some of the ways the zoo is ramping up security to prevent future issues.
Security experts will also be brought in to conduct updated risk assessments with the new security systems.
