French Court Hears Case of Man Linked to the Disappearance of Endangered Monkeys

A 20-year-old man in France is facing charges after allegedly stealing 14 endangered squirrel monkeys from a zoo. The theft occurred a week ago at a zoo in La Londe-les-Maures, located approximately 70km east of Marseille. The stolen monkeys, belonging to the Saimiri genus, were microchipped, and one of them was found in the basement of an apartment building in Marseille where the suspect resides. Each monkey has a high value on the black market, with prices reaching thousands of euros. Prosecutors suspect that the man was part of an organized gang involved in the crime. The suspect's vehicle was spotted near the scene, suggesting a planned operation involving multiple individuals. The accused denies any involvement in the theft. Prosecutors are seeking charges of theft and trafficking of a protected species as part of an organized gang. They are requesting that the suspect remain in custody to prevent destruction of evidence and contact with potential accomplices. While two of the stolen monkeys were left outside a home in Marseille, the whereabouts of the other eleven remain unknown, sparking concerns about their wellbeing. Squirrel monkeys from Central and South America are listed as endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's "red list." Authorities urge anyone with information about the monkeys to contact the police, as experts warn that the monkeys' survival without proper care is at risk.