Thieves stole 10 rare monkeys after breaking into a zoo in southern England at the weekend, the second such heist in two months, zoo officials said on Monday.
A four-week-old Goeldi’s monkey and its parents were among the primates stolen during the break-in on Saturday night at the Shaldon Wildlife Trust, near Teignmouth, Devon, the officials said.
The others stolen were silvery marmosets, cotton-top tamarins and a spider monkey.
Staff at the Shaldon Wildlife Trust suspect the thieves were seeking to supply demand on the European continent.
Six weeks ago, five other spider monkeys were taken from the centre in another burglary.
Tracey Moore, trust director, said: ”It is completely devastating for us. They were all rare species.
”We don’t buy or sell our animals, but they are just trading them like a commodity.
”It is just so cruel to take a baby and a parent. We don’t know where they are or if they are being looked after properly.” – Sapa-AFP