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Elite gendarmerie unit rescues endangered monkeys after they were stolen from a French zoo and kidnappers threatened to sell the animals on the black market if a ransom wasn’t paid
France’s GIGN gendarmerie unit rescued most of a group of endangered monkeys stolen from Exotic Park zoo in Lescar, after alleged kidnappers demanded a ransom and threatened to sell them. The case highlights the risk of wildlife theft and the difficulty of recovering animals targeted for the illegal trade.
Eight marmosets and five cotton-top tamarins were taken in a night-time raid last week. Police used zoo CCTV and digital location data to identify suspects; two men are in custody and a woman is under investigation, with all three denying involvement. Eleven monkeys were found in stable health, alongside €1,500 and five illegally held hunting rifles, but two remain missing; another escaped during the attempted theft and was found in the zoo.
In short
- GIGN recovered 11 stolen monkeys from a French zoo.
- Two monkeys remain missing.
- Three suspects deny involvement.
Explained simply
GIGN is a French gendarmerie unit that handles serious and high-risk operations. Gendarmes are part of France’s armed forces but also carry out policing duties. Exotic Park is a zoo in Lescar, in south-western France.
Marmosets and cotton-top tamarins are small primates; cotton-top tamarins are endangered. Wildlife theft can put animals at risk and feed illegal trade, where protected species may be sold outside authorised channels. Recovering animals can be difficult, particularly if they are moved or hidden.