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[Alice Gilmore <AGilmore AT dynetech.com>]

Title: 4 of 5 stolen primates returned

The Associated Press
Posted March 25, 2003, 8:39 AM EST

 
TAMPA -- Four of five endangered monkeys stolen form their private sanctuary are back home, officials said. A 2-year-old greater bush baby named Chewy is still missing.

Two people bought the four monkeys from a truck on the side of the road. The Good Samaritans returned the primates Monday after learning they were stolen.

The four monkeys -- a ring-tailed lemur named Munchkin and her 4-day-old baby, and a pair of cotton-top tamarins named No Tail and Hairspray -- were in good health, said owner Chris Newton. The female tamarin is diabetic and had lost weight, but is recovering, he said.

Thieves broke through the gate of the 6-foot privacy fence surrounding the sanctuary south of Tampa and emptied three cages while Newton was at work on Saturday. Newton, a hairstylist, owns 20 primates that were abused or unwanted.

Gloria Martinez said she bought the lemurs for her 11-year-old daughter from a man on the side of the road. He asked for $100 for the mother lemur, but accepted her offer of $40, she said. At home, she noticed the tiny baby clinging to its mother.

Martinez saw a news report about the stolen monkeys Sunday night and turned them over to Hillsborough County Animal Services.

Henry Nunez bought the tamarins from the peddler for $300. He called Tampa police because he was concerned they were stolen and returned them to Newton.

"I'm out 300 bucks, but the monkeys are safe," Nunez said.

No arrests had been made Monday. The monkeys are worth about $17,000.