The Zoo’s new flaship experience for 2010 opens on Saturday March 27. AFP PHOTO/BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
OAN Roy Francis
UPDATED 12:52 PM PT – Friday, February 3, 2023
Dallas police said they have arrested a man in connection with the two Emperor Tamarin monkeys that were taken from the Dallas Zoo.
Davion Irvin, 24, was arrested by Dallas police on Thursday and has been booked into Dallas County Jail. He is being held on $25,000 bail, and is facing five counts of animal cruelty.
Dallas Police are looking for the public’s help in identifying the pictured individual. Detectives are looking to speak with the man in regard to the two tamarin monkeys missing from the Dallas Zoo.
Anyone with information- call 214-671-4509. pic.twitter.com/VVvvHFAdgJ
— Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) January 31, 2023
The Dallas police had previously released a picture of the suspect, although they did not name him as such, only that they were interested in speaking with him about the case.
We cannot thank the Dallas PD enough for their quick response and assistance in locating the tamarins. We are pleased that video from our surveillance cameras – which we shared with DPD – seems to have been critical in generating a tip that led to the recovery of the tamarins.
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo) February 1, 2023
A tip had been called in following the release of the photo, which led the police to recover the two missing monkeys from the closet of an empty house in Lancaster. However, the individual from the photo was not at the house.
Then the police department received another tip that the man was at the Dallas World Aquarium, near the animal exhibits.
Police arrived on scene as Irvin was boarding a train, they picked him at the 1400 block of Pacific Avenue and took him in for questioning.
We are thrilled beyond belief to share that our two emperor tamarin monkeys have been found. DPD located the animals early this evening, and called our team to come secure and transport the tamarins back to the Zoo. They will be evaluated by our veterinarians this evening. pic.twitter.com/bDd49d3uDc
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo) February 1, 2023
The monkey case was the fourth incident to happen at the Dallas so far in 2023. Earlier in January, a clouded leopard had escaped her enclosure, afterwards police had discovered that the enclosure had been intentionally cut.
We are thrilled to report we located clouded leopard Nova on-grounds at the Zoo this afternoon at approximated 4:40 p.m. She was located very near the original habitat, and teams were able to safely secure her just before 5:15 p.m. pic.twitter.com/XucvBrQO4V
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo) January 13, 2023
Zoo staff found a similar cut on the langur monkeys enclosure the next day. Then the zoo had labeled the death of an endangered vulture as suspicious do to an “unusual” wound they had found.
We’re so grateful for the support we’ve received as we comprehend the unexpected loss of our 35-year-old lappet-faced vulture, Pin. Losing him is devastating not only to our Zoo family but also to the conservation efforts of this species. Pin will be missed dearly by everyone. pic.twitter.com/TJEQnT0MG1
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo) January 24, 2023
As of Friday, the police as still investigating the Dallas zoo incidents and have not ruled out further suspects or charges.
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