A 24-YEAR-OLD MAN has been arrested over the theft of two emperor tamarin monkeys from Dallas Zoo after being spotted at the city’s aquarium.

The zoo has been hit by a recent spate of missing animals and other incidents, including a breach in the enclosure of a clouded leopard that was later found within zoo grounds.

The two missing monkeys were discovered in an abandoned home 25 kilometres away a day after they went missing on Monday.

Police had issued a photograph of a man in a hoodie and asked the public for help in identifying him.

“Dallas Police received a tip [Davion] Irvin was seen at the Dallas Aquarium near animal exhibits,” police said in a statement.

Irvin got on a metro train and was arrested after disembarking. He was charged with six counts of animal cruelty and taken to the county jail.

An endangered lappet-faced vulture at the zoo was recently found dead from a wound in what officials said were “unusual” circumstances.

Extra security cameras and increased overnight patrols have been introduced to protect the animals.

Emperor tamarins are small monkeys with long white whiskers that sweep back from their face and are named for their likeness to German emperor Wilhelm II.

© AFP 2023