KATC
Authorities are investigating the theft of 12 squirrel monkeys from Zoosiana in Broussard, Louisiana.
CNN  — 

Twelve squirrel monkeys have been stolen from a zoo in Louisiana after their facility was broken into over the weekend.

The theft happened shortly before midnight Saturday and authorities are investigating, Zoosiana said on its Facebook page.

Dallas Zoo
The emperor tamarin monkeys that disappeared this week but were recovered by police Tuesday are healthy, according to the Dallas Zoo. ìOur veterinary and animal care teams have said, beyond losing a bit of weight, they show no signs of injury and both started eating and drinking almost immediately once the team completed health exams on Tuesday night,î the zoo posted on Facebook Wednesday. The zoo said the monkeys ñ named Bella and Finn ñ will go through a quarantine period before being returned to their zoo habitat. The Dallas Zoo previously said their habitat had been ìintentionally compromised,î and they believed the animals were taken. The tamarins were discovered Tuesday evening in an abandoned house in Lancaster, Texas, after police received a tip. The zoo is increasing its reward, now offering $25,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case.

Dallas Zoo's missing tamarin monkeys have been found in a closet of an abandoned home. Here's what we know

“The individual targeted facilities of smaller primates and specifically compromised the Squirrel Monkey exhibit,” the zoo said.

The investigation at the zoo in Broussard, Louisiana, just outside Lafayette, comes as authorities in Dallas are investigating a series of unusual incidents involving animals at the zoo there, including the disappearance Monday of two emperor tamarin monkeys found a day later in an abandoned home about 15 miles away, officials said.

Zoosiana didn’t say how many squirrel monkeys it had but noted the remaining monkeys were assessed by a veterinarian and animal care team and were in good health.

“All other animals are accounted for and appear to have been undisturbed,” Zoosiana said.

Zoo officials are working with local, state and federal agencies and asked anyone with information to come forward.