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[Josh Greenman <joshg1973 AT yahoo.com>]

http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8762177%255E2682,00.html

Tighter security after monkey theft
By CARLA CARUSO
February 23, 2004


 FENCE upgrades and more patrols, particularly during major events, are 
some of the measures being looked at to increase security at Adelaide 
Zoo.

 The tightened security follows the theft of a squirrel monkey, worth 
about $50,000 on the black market, from its exhibit overnight on 
Friday.

 Cisco, 11, was found in an Edwardstown unit by police on Saturday 
night, after a tip-off to Crime Stoppers.

 A 20-year-old Edwardstown man has been charged with theft and unlawful 
possession and was bailed to appear in court at a later date.

 Adelaide Zoo director Mark Craig said yesterday the Royal Zoological 
Society of SA would review zoo security this week.

 "Our long-term plan is to replace the whole perimeter fence," he said.

 "We (also) may need to increase perimeter fence patrols whenever 
there's a lot of people around.

 "That evening, Friday night, was the Fringe festival (opening parade) 
and we had a lot of people in the city, within walking distance of the 
zoo."

 The society has already been in talks with Adelaide City Council about 
upgrading the fence along Frome Rd.

 The monkey exhibit, which is about 20 years old, will also be looked 
at to ascertain whether it is secure enough for Cisco and long-time 
friend Lorenzo, 13, to return to.

 Security measures already at the zoo include patrols by Chubb 
Security, alarms and security cameras installed in the major buildings 
and at the gates – although not in the exhibits – and the on-site 
residency of horticulture supervisor Jeff Lugg and his family.

 The monkey snatchers were believed to have entered the zoo by climbing 
a 2.5m fence in the southwest corner near Frome Rd. A shovel, pet 
carrier and net were taken from the aviary area to smash a hole in the 
chicken-wire covered exhibit, and net and trap the monkey. The 
equipment used to snatch the monkey was later found dumped at the zoo.

 The aviary area is several metres from the monkey exhibit and, with no 
lighting and the zoo in a cover of darkness, this would have been 
nearly impossible to accomplish unless premeditated. Primate keeper 
Andrew Chauncy said the zoo was a dangerous place for intruders to 
wander at night.

 "It's pitch black – it's even creepy for me here at night," he said.

 Meanwhile, Cisco is under 30-day quarantine in the zoo's Animal Health 
Centre – with Lorenzo for company – to protect it in the event it came 
into contact with any other animal or human infection while away from 
its enclosure.