I Know It's Not Dogs But...

[poodlefan]

They've found the missing Tamarin.

Linky to story

A rare monkey has finally been returned to his home in a NSW wildlife park, almost nine months after he was stolen from his cage.

Rico, a cotton-top tamarin, was removed from his enclosure at the Symbio Wildlife Park at Helensburgh on May 30 last year when he was just six-months-old.

Three other tamarins and four pygmy marmoset monkeys were also taken.

Advertisement: Story continues below The other tamarins were found in an Auburn park on June 1, while the pygmy marmosets were located at an Auburn veterinary clinic.

On Saturday, a man who said his friend had bought Rico over the internet returned him to the wildlife park.

The 34-year-old man from Victoria told police he returned the monkey once he realised it was stolen.

Two teenage boys aged 17 and 18 were charged over the theft last year.

The illegal trade in wildlife is believed to be worth billions and the species most commonly stolen are reptiles, birds, fish, insects and plants, the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts said.

In October, two tamarins were taken from the Alma Park Zoo, north of Brisbane. One monkey was found dead shortly after.

Symbio's owner, John Radnidge, said last year that he had strengthened security at the park following the thefts, adding 24-hour security and signage.

Police said in a statement that there would be no further investigation.

[Kirislin]

wow, that's fantastic that he survived all this time.

[poodlefan]

Apparently they can become more aggressive as they hit adolescence Perhaps that's the reason he's been handed back now.

At least he was returned. Other options don't bear thinking about.

[Boronia]

Here is a little more news

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland...0221-1b1z5.html

Report by Marissa Calligeros at the Brisbane Times.....

A highly-endangered monkey stolen from Brisbane's Alma Park Zoo last year has astonishingly been found safe and well interstate.

The female Cotton-top tamarin was handed into Symbio Wildlife Park at Helensburgh, south of Sydney, yesterday after being found in Melbourne.

Keepers at the wildlife park initially believed the monkey was named Rico, among seven stolen from the zoo, in May last year.

Advertisement: Story continues below

A 34-year-old Victorian man yesterday brought a monkey to the wildlife park that he said his friend had bought for him on the internet.

"Unfortunately it was a case of mistaken identity by the police," the wildlife park owner John Radnidge said.

After a physical examination and an analysis of the monkey's microchip, keepers discovered the returned tamarin was in fact Conchetta.

"I can confirm that the animal belongs to Alma Park in Brisbane. It turned up in Melbourne and she's now in our care."

"The private individual who had the animal in his care was doing some research on the internet and came across the story [about Rico].

"He flew up in his private plane ... to return the monkey to us yesterday.

"We determined immediately that it wasn't our animal. They are absolutely thrilled in Brisbane."

Conchetta and her male partner Tonto were stolen from their enclosure on October 9.

Tonto was found dead in a nearby housing estate in Dakabin the following day.

All hope was soon lost for Conchetta, who was pregnant and not expected to survive outside the zoo.

The fate of Conchetta's twins is not yet known.

Staff at Alma Park Zoo are overjoyed at the news a spokeswoman said.

‘‘We’ve got goosebumps,’’ she said. ‘‘After all this time we had lost hope of having her back alive. Considering the terrible fate that was met by her mate Tonto who was beaten to death during the heist. We just can’t wait to see her.’’

The spokeswoman said Conchetta will be kept in quarantine for a short time after she returns home and then housed near other Cotton-top tamarins for companionship, while a new mate is organised through the official zoo network.

‘‘Conchetta appears to be in good health and will be undergoing a thorough veterinary examination,’’ she said.

‘‘She will remain at Symbio for a short period to allow her to acclimate back to a zoo setting, before she is flown to Queensland to be reunited with her keepers.’’

Two teenage boys aged 17 and 18 were charged over the Symbio thefts last year.

The illegal trade in wildlife is believed to be worth billions and the species most commonly stolen are reptiles, birds, fish, insects and plants, the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts said.

Investigations are continuing.

- with Glenda Kwek

and here is a photo if the link doesn't work

[dasha]

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/...0221-1b1tn.html

Apparently now it isn't the one they thought........................but at least it is one that is returned to its rightful home.

[poochmad]

Good news that the monkeys were returned home. But seriously, the dude who was given the money as a present and who used his private jet to return it, didn't know it was stolen? What a crock! Most likely they waited until she gave birth and then returned her to the zoo while they sold the babies for thousands. Sounds cynical, but most likely true.

[gspforme]

Good news that the monkeys were returned home. But seriously, the dude who was given the money as a present and who used his private jet to return it, didn't know it was stolen? What a crock! Most likely they waited until she gave birth and then returned her to the zoo while they sold the babies for thousands. Sounds cynical, but most likely true.

So can you buy monkeys on ebay now? That's bizarre.

I find it hard to believe someone just bought a monkey on the internet as a present!