Three arrested over monkey theft

Two men and a teenager have been arrested in connection with the theft of three endangered monkeys from a zoo.

Police say the men and a 16-year-old were arrested at two separate addresses in Erdington, Birmingham, on Wednesday.

Two of the cotton-top Tamarin monkeys, have now been recovered following the theft from Drayton Manor Park and Zoo, near Tamworth, on Monday night.

There were serious concerns about their welfare as the animals need to be kept in conditions above room temperature.

The zoo said the trio - Rio, Rhia and Pinky - are micro-chipped and could be identified if the thieves attempted to sell them on.

Rio and Rhia, a breeding pair, have been at the zoo for about 15 years while baby Terry was born in captivity about six years ago.

The animals are native to the Colombian rainforests.