Two emperor tamarins that authorities believe were taken from the Dallas Zoo were found Tuesday inside a closet in an abandoned house, authorities said.
A tip led authorities to the home in Lancaster, south of Dallas, where they discovered the animals shortly before 5 p.m., the Dallas Police Department said in a statement.
No arrests have been made and an investigation is underway into her disappearance, the department said.
The animals were returned to the zoo and will be evaluated by staff Tuesday night, a zoo spokeswoman said.
The announcement came hours after the department asked for help identify a person in relation to the missing animals.
His disappearance was the latest in a series of suspicious incidents at the zoo. Investigators found an intentional cut in their habitat Monday and believe they were abducted, the police department said.
On January 21, Pin, a 35-year-old endangered vulture, was found dead with what authorities described as an «unusual wound.» The cause of the animal’s death has not been determined.
On January 13, Nova, a 3-year-old clouded leopard, escaped from her wire-mesh enclosure after being cut, authorities said. The cat, which the zoo said posed no danger to the public, was found later that day.
A similar cut was also found in the zoo’s langur monkey habitat, police said. No animal escaped or was taken or harmed.
It is not clear if the incidents are linked. The zoo has tightened security measures, adding more night guards and cameras.