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Three men arrested over monkey theft
Feb 3 2005
Birmingham Post
Three men were arrested in Birmingham yesterday in connection with the theft of three endangered monkeys from a theme park zoo.
Rare cotton-top Tamarin monkeys Tommy, Tina and Terry were taken from Drayton Manor Theme Park and Zoo, near Tamworth, Staffordshire, on Monday night.
A public appeal was made for their safe return because of their specialist feeding and habitat requirements.
Staffordshire Police last night said the three men - aged 22, 20 and 19 - were arrested at two separate addresses in the Erdington area of Birmingham and two of the monkeys were recovered.
It is not yet known which two, but zoo bosses were arranging their collection.
The three suspects were being questioned and inquiries are continuing, a force spokesman said.
Earlier, the attraction's managing director, Colin Bryan, said: "We pride ourselves on our conservation and breeding programme of cotton-top Tamarin monkeys.
"We are extremely concerned and distressed at the theft. The monkeys have a careful daily routine and we employ experts who look after them.
"We need the public's help to get them back safely."
Tommy and Tina have been at the zoo for about 15 years while baby Terry was born in captivity about six years ago.
Their keeper was said to be "very concerned" about their welfare because they need to be kept in conditions above room temperature.
The primates, who have a high metabolism, are fed with fruit and vegetables each morning and special vitamin cakes and jelly each afternoon.
