Theft of exotic animals soars as 'Noah's Ark' gangs target zoos

Criminal gangs are targeting small zoos and safari parks to meet the demand from private collectors intent on amassing a "Noah's Ark" of exotic animals, with rare primates a particular target.

The theft of five monkeys this month has rekindled concern over the scale of the problem. Three silvery marmosets and two Geoffroy's spider monkeys were taken from their cages in East Sussex.

Until three years ago there had been no reported thefts of primates in the United Kingdom, with gangs focusing their attention on rare birds, reptiles and amphibians instead. But the incident at Drusillas Zoo near Eastbourne has brought the total number of stolen monkeys to 80. Many are thought to have died during the raids and only a handful have been recovered.

It comes as research showed that 40 per cent of zoos across Europe have reported falling victim to animal thieves, with some losing as many as eight specimens. In one case a gang was interrupted while trying to steal a lion. The animal was discovered tranquillised with its claws removed. Other thefts have included an alligator from a zoo in the West Midlands, flamingos from the south of England and the much publicised case of Toga the penguin, seized from Amazon World Zoo Park in the Isle of Wight in December.

Other thefts have been more opportunistic, with visitors stealing small rabbits and tortoises on impulse. But it is the soaring number of stolen primates that is troubling investigators. Most at risk are the small monkeys that can be kept in aviaries, such as South American tamarins, spider monkeys and types of marmoset. In one of the worst cases, 15 rare breeds were stolen from Oban Zoological Park in August 2004, including seven squirrel monkeys, five black-tufted marmosets and three Geoffroy's spider monkeys. All are understood to have been taken overseas.

John Hayward, a former detective inspector with Thames Valley Police who now runs the national theft register listing stolen animals, believes zoos are up against professional gangs.

"This is the nearest thing you will get to organised crime. It is international and highly specialised - they are just like the gangs that go after art or antiques," he said.

As well as running the risk of being bitten by the animals they steal, gangs must know how to handle and transport them. Often they use the same transit networks as drug smugglers, stealing to order, on behalf of a criminal receiver who will then place the animal with interested collectors for whom their collection has become an obsession with money being no object.

For example, flamingos stolen recently in the UK are believed to have ended up in a private collection in the south of France where the purchaser was amassing two of every species - a so-called Noah's Ark - in an attempt to establish breeding pairs.

The price that an animal commands is dependent on its rarity in the wild, said Mr Hayward. As numbers in the natural habitat decreased the bounty rose dramatically. He said: "There are private collectors out there just like in the art world. They have serious money and they all want to own the Mona Lisa. People don't ask questions, they just pay the money over. People just aren't satisfied with a budgie or a goldfish."

The rarest birds are listed in appendix one of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites). They include the giant blue hyacinth macaw, which grows up to 36 inches tall and can fetch up to £10,000. However, the number of thefts of parrots and other exotic birds has been in steady decline in recent years, thanks to an increase in micro-chipping and increased security measures being taken by zoos.

But the latest report on the problem from the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria said many thefts remained unknown or unreported. It also found that thefts were equally likely to occur during opening times as when the zoo was closed.

Animal groups have long campaigned for tougher sentences. In 2005 the penalty for dealing in the rarest stolen animals was increased to five years. However, prosecutions remain few and far between.

Main targets

Marmosets

Marmosets are primarily found in the tropical rainforests of South America where they live in groups of eight to 10 with one breeding pair. Each weighs up to 500g and grows to a length of 19cm.

Tamarins

Tamarin monkeys can be found in Central and South America and in Bolivia, living in groups of three to 40 members. They can grow up to 30cm long and weigh up to 900g.

Spider Monkeys

Spider monkeys live in the tropical rainforests of Mexico and Brazil. They get their name from their disproportionate long spindly limbs; their tail alone being as long as 89cm. They are highly agile animals, and live in groups of around 25.

Tortoises

Tortoises live in the warm regions of every continent except Australia. They vary in size from a few centimetres to two metres long and can live as long as humans. Some tortoises have even been known to live for 150 years.

Macaws

Macaws are the largest member of the parrot family with 17 species in the wild today. They can be found in Central and South America in tropical rainforest, arid regions and near rivers and streams. They eat fruit, seeds, nectar and nuts.