A 24-year-old man from Texas has confessed to stealing two emperor tamarin monkeys from their enclosure at the Dallas Zoo and making his escape on the city’s light rail system.
In his confession, Davion Irvin stated that he loves animals and would steal more if he were released from jail.
Irvin was arrested last week after raising suspicion by asking questions about the animals at a downtown Dallas aquarium. He was charged with six counts of animal cruelty and two counts of burglary.
On the night of January 29th 2023, Irvin allegedly waited until dark to jump over a fence of the Dallas Zoo and cut the metal mesh of the enclosure to steal the monkeys, named Bella and Finn.
The animals were discovered, along with multiple cats and pigeons, at an empty home in Lancaster, a suburb of Dallas, the day after they were reported missing.
Additionally, dead feeder fish and fish food that had been taken from a staff-only area of the zoo was also found at the home.
In addition to the charges related to the theft of the two emperor tamarin monkeys, Irvin also faces a charge of burglary in connection to the escape of a clouded leopard named Nova.
Nova was reported missing on January 13th, and a cut was discovered in her enclosure. The Dallas Zoo was temporarily closed while a search was launched, and Nova was found later the same day near her habitat.
According to Irvin’s statements to investigators, he had intended to steal Nova but was only able to pet her before she escaped on top of her enclosure.
Irvin has not been connected to the sudden death of an endangered vulture at the Dallas Zoo in January.
