On January 31, 2023, two emperor tamarin monkeys were found in a closet after going missing from the Dallas Zoo in Texas. As of February 2, 2023, Davion Irvin has now been arrested on suspicion of the theft of the monkeys. 

According to CNN, two emperor tamarin monkeys had disappeared from the Dallas Zoo on January 30 but were found in a closet fifteen minutes away from the zoo in Lancaster the next day. The zoo said on Tuesday, January 31, “We are thrilled beyond belief to share that our two emperor tamarin monkeys have been found.”

This is not the first time the Dallas Zoo has had issues. On January 13, 2023, a clouded leopard’s enclosure was tampered with allowing it to escape and causing the closure of the zoo. Also on January 13, 2023, the langur monkey habitat was also disturbed without animals escaping. On January 24, 2023, a vulture named Pin died of an unusual wound. 

According to CNN, Davion Irvin has been arrested on six counts of non-livestock animal cruelty. Irvin had a good opportunity to swipe the two monkeys with the zoo being closed from January 30 to February 1 due to an ice storm. Irvin has not been linked to the vulture’s death as of yet. He has been linked to the leopard enclosure tampering, the emperor tamarin monkey’s disappearance, and tampering with the langur monkey’s enclosure; however, he has not been charged for these events yet.

Soon the death of Pin the vulture will be determined. The monkeys are now safely home at the Dallas Zoo and a motive for Irvin will be found.