17 rare monkeys stolen from zoo

SEVENTEEN rare monkeys have been stolen from a zoo in the Loir-et-Cher.

Thieves made off with seven golden lion tamarins and 10 silver marmosets in the night of Saturday to Sunday at the Beauval zoo park in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher.

Zoo director Rodolphe Delord told reporters: "They are extremely rare and fragile monkeys that are part of an international breeding programme.

"They don't belong to us - the lion tamarins are the property of the Brazilian government and are under extreme threat."

He said zoo management had "absolutely no idea how this happened", adding that the park is monitored day and night by guards and CCTV.

The animals are forbidden from being sold. Mr Delord added: "I can't at all see what the thieves can do with them."

Photo: TF1 screengrab