- By Madeline Halpert
- BBC News, New York
Image supply, Getty Images
Emperor tamarin monkeys (inventory picture)
A suspect arrested for stealing two monkeys from the Dallas Zoo mentioned he took the animals on the town’s gentle rail system, based on new court docket paperwork.
Davion Irvin, 24, was arrested final week in reference to a string of suspicious incidents on the Texas zoo.
He instructed police he liked animals and would take extra if given the prospect, court docket paperwork present.
He is accused of taking emperor tamarin monkeys Bella and Finn.
Acting on a tip, police discovered the monkeys in an deserted home in Lancaster, Texas, a day after they had been found lacking on 31 January.
Irvin instructed police that on the evening of 29 January, he waited till dusk, hopped over a fence to get into the zoo and reduce by way of the monkeys’ enclosure and took them.
This was specified by an affidavit for an arrest warrant from the Dallas Police Department, obtained by the BBC’s US accomplice CBS News.
He then introduced the monkeys with him on the town’s gentle rail earlier than taking them to an deserted home the place he says he saved them.
At the home, officers additionally found a number of cats and pigeons in addition to useless fish and fish meals, based on the affidavits.
Irvin has been charged with one depend of housebreaking and 6 counts of animal cruelty.
He is charged with a further depend of housebreaking in connection to the escape of a clouded leopard named Nova. She was found lacking on 13 January after a reduce was found in her enclosure.
She was discovered secure later that day.
Irvin mentioned he wished to take Nova, too, however he might solely pet her earlier than she climbed on high of her enclosure.
Irvin was arrested final week close to the Dallas World Aquarium after he requested employees there questions concerning the animals and an worker recognised him from video footage from the zoo launched by police.
In the times earlier than Bella and Finn had been taken, a person on the zoo had been asking about methods to look after emperor tamarin monkeys and methods to transport them, based on affidavits. The similar man was seen coming into employees buildings.
Police have additionally linked Mr Irvin with sabotage to the enclosure of langur monkeys, although none escaped.
However, he has not been linked with the demise of an endangered vulture on the zoo, who was discovered useless in its enclosure with an “uncommon wound”. The chicken was one in every of solely 6,500 on the planet and its demise was deemed “very suspicious”.
