Bail for four over monkey thefts

Four people arrested in connection with the theft of three endangered monkeys from a zoo on Monday have been bailed pending further inquiries.

The four, aged 16, 19, 20 and 21, were held over the theft of the Cotton-Top Tamarin monkeys from Drayton Manor Park and Zoo, near Tamworth, Staffordshire.

Police found Rio, Pinky and Baby following raids at two addresses in the Erdington area of Birmingham.

A theme park spokesperson said a vet will assess the monkeys on Thursday.

Welfare concerns

Two of the animals were recovered on Wednesday night and the third member of the family was traced in the early hours of Thursday, it is understood.

They are not thought to have been harmed.

Rio and Pinky have been at the zoo for about 15 years while Baby was born in captivity about six years ago.

Colin Bryan, managing director of the tourist attraction, said: "We are over the moon that all three monkeys have now been reunited and we are very grateful to the police."

'Seem quite happy'

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

Primate keeper Emma Swaddle said she was relieved to have the tiny trio back and would be monitoring them carefully.

"I was worried when they went, whether they were all together - they need to be together, whether they were in the warmth and whether they were getting fed right or not," she said.

"I'm just relieved to have them back. They don't seem to be too traumatised about it. They seem quite happy."