Lescar Zoo theft: 14 primates stolen from French refuge

Fourteen primates were stolen from the Lescar Zoo near Pau in southwestern France. The theft, discovered upon the park's opening on Tuesday, involved nine marmosets and five pied tamarins. The latter species is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Zoo director Guillaume Darzacq reported that the thieves targeted specific enclosures, noting that a secure window designed to open only from the inside was found open. He expressed concern that the animals, many of whom were rescued from previous trafficking or abuse, are likely being returned to the black market. The stolen primates include entire families with young animals.

Rodolphe Jarry, the public prosecutor of Pau, confirmed that an investigation has been launched and assigned to the Pau police department. The incident highlights the ongoing issue of illegal wildlife trafficking, which Interpol estimates to be a global industry worth at least $20 billion annually.