Venezuela zoo animals stolen

A peacock was one of the animals thought to have been stolen

Police in the Venezuelan capital Caracas are searching for more than 40 animals which were stolen from the local zoo.

The animals - some of which belong to endangered species - include tortoises, peacocks and parrots.

The head of the science branch of the police, David Zerpa, said they were worth about $50,000.

He said the thieves would probably try to sell the animals on the black market.

Several stuffed animals were also stolen.

The thieves made off with 37 turtles, a tortoise, a parrot, a duck, a sheep and a peacock on 23 July, El Pinar Zoological Park veterinarian Antmar Henriquez told the Associated Press news agency.

Three of the missing turtles were Arrau turtles, South America's largest fresh water turtle and Venezuela's most endangered species, Mr Henriquez said.

There were also 32 Galapagos turtles and two terecay turtles missing.

"They didn't steal them to eat but to sell them," he said.