All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Would-be monkey thieves bitten as animals at Wellington Zoo fought back

Frances Cook
By Frances Cook
BusinessDesk Investments Editor·NZ Herald·
7 Apr, 2018 04:21 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

'Quite sophisticated' Wellington Zoo describes attempted Monkey theft
Wellington Zoo gives press conference referring to the attempted Squirrel Monkey theft. ...
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
0:00
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
    • captions off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Text Background
      Caption Area Background
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      What do you do with your portfolio in the current climate?

      UP NEXT:

      Autoplay in
      4
      Disable Autoplay
      Cancel Video
      Wellington Zoo gives press conference referring to the attempted Squirrel Monkey theft.
      NOW PLAYING • 'Quite sophisticated' Wellington Zoo describes attempted Monkey theft
      Wellington Zoo gives press conference referring to the attempted Squirrel Monkey theft. ...

      Would-be thieves armed with bolt cutters would have suffered bite marks after a troop of squirrel monkeys at Wellington Zoo fought back during an overnight break-in.

      Wellington Zoo today reported a monkey had been stolen - but later confirmed the animal had been hiding.

      The female squirrel monkey had been presumed stolen after zookeepers this morning discovered the enclosure had been broken into and could not find the creature.

      Chief executive of Wellington Zoo Trust, Karen Fifield, told media that staff were concerned by the would-be thieves' sophistication.

      DO YOU KNOW MORE? SEND US AN EMAIL.
      All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
      Subscribe now

      All Access Weekly

      From $2 per week
      Pay just
      $15.75
      $2
      per week ongoing
      Subscribe now
      BEST VALUE

      All Access Annual

      Pay just
      $449
      $49
      per year ongoing
      Subscribe now
      Learn more
      30
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      "To bring tools like bolt cutters is something that we think is quite premeditated," she said.

      The intruders used bolt cutters to open a door into the golden lion tamarins' area and then entered the squirrel monkey enclosure.

      "They've obviously tried to take a squirrel monkey," said Fifield.

      Staff checked the habitat several times before contacting police and issuing a media statement saying the monkey was missing and staff were concerned for her welfare.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      However, about 12.20pm a zoo spokesman confirmed the animal had been found, hiding in her enclosure.

      "We had one that we thought was missing but she was hiding, obviously very scared," said Fifield.

      Although all the squirrel monkeys were now accounted for, some had been hurt during the break-in. The animals are being checked by a vet tomorrow.

      The monkeys' injuries indicated they had been grabbed, Fifield said.

      Discover more

      New Zealand

      Would-be monkey thieves may need medical attention

      07 Apr 05:00 PM
      New Zealand

      Squirrel monkey break-in: CCTV footage reviewed

      07 Apr 09:45 PM
      New Zealand

      How the zoo keeps animals warm in winter

      23 Jul 05:00 PM
      New Zealand|crime

      Man tried to steal monkey for girlfriend

      05 Sep 03:18 AM

      "The monkeys would have defended themselves. They're quite feisty little animals and they would not have been very happy about a human they did not know in their habitat."

      One monkey had a haematoma on its elbow and others had scratch marks.

      The monkeys would have definitely bitten the alleged offenders, Fifield said.

      The zoo would not speculate whether the monkeys were being stolen to order and said they did not have CCTV footage of the break-in.

      The outside security fence was not breached, but a contractor had left a service gate unlocked.

      "However, because [the intruders] had bolt cutters they would have got through that bolted gate anyway."

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      When asked what prices squirrel monkeys could fetch, Fifield said the zoo did not put monetary values on its animals.

      "To us they're priceless."

      The break-in had also distressed staff.

      Squirrel monkeys were social animals and would be terrified if they were stolen and separated from their mates.

      "We want to say to whoever tried to do this, this is really just not acceptable and it's not appropriate to try to take one of these animals," said Fifield.

      The zoo said this morning when one of the monkeys was still believed to be missing that it wouldn't have pressed charges or asked questions if the alleged offenders had returned the animal.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Fifield confirmed zoo has launched an internal investigation and would be increasing security patrols.

      Wellington City Council acting chief executive Kane Patena said they'd offered support, particularly any resources the zoo might need for the investigation.

      "If there's a will, there's a way. You can put all sorts of security measures in place, but if people are intending on committing crimes they will always try to find a way.

      "Part of our role and responsibility is to try and get ahead of people who have this kind of will and intent."

      Police said they were alerted to the break-in around 9am, and had since examined the scene.

      Anyone who has seen something suspicious is asked to ring Wellington Police on (04) 381 2000, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Although rare in New Zealand, animal thefts from zoo enclosures have happened all over the world.

      In 2015 National Geographic reported golden lion tamarins were stolen by professional animal dealers from Zoo Krefeld in Germany.

      The magazine reported that in 2011, 400 animals were stolen from European zoos and in 2015, 25 members of the European Association of Zoos and Acquaria reported thefts.

      One French zoo had 79 tortoises stolen.

      At the time the director of the Association of Zoological Gardens in Germany, Volker Homes, said zoo thefts were "a really severe problem".

      Closer to home, last month Charisma the alpaca was stolen from Dairy Flat, Auckland, leaving his blind mate Bambi adrift.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      The alpaca hasn't been found.

      In December 2016, the Sun reported a group of teenagers broke into London Zoo at night and filmed themselves exploring the enclosures.

      One teenager was bitten by a llama during the escapade, and another jumped into a penguin enclosure.

      The escapade was posted on YouTube.

      In 2008 Hamilton Zoo recovered a stolen pair of Madagascan day geckos and two bearded dragons.

      Thieves cut through chained and padlocked doors to get into the reptile house to steal the lizards.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      What is a squirrel monkey?

      • According to the Zoological Society of London the primate, also known as Saimiri, is an endangered species that grows to 35m and weigh up to just 1100g.
      • They have the largest brain of all primates with a brain-to-body mass ratio of 1:17.
      • They live together in large troops of up to 500 and have a polygamous mating system.
      • When threatened they make vocal calls, including warning sounds, and have been called "small, nervous primates".

      Save

        Share this article

      Latest from New Zealand

      New ZealandUpdated

      Man in custody after five-hour armed police stand-off in Christchurch

      26 Jun 02:04 AM
      live
      Politics

      Watch: ‘Heartbroken’ MPs pay tribute to Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp

      26 Jun 01:57 AM
      New Zealand

      From highway to the bush: Spiked car crashes, police dogs track down pair inside

      26 Jun 01:53 AM

      Kaibosh gets a clean-energy boost in the fight against food waste

      sponsored
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Recommended for you
      SH4 road closure hours extended for one week
      Whanganui Chronicle

      SH4 road closure hours extended for one week

      26 Jun 02:05 AM
      Man in custody after five-hour armed police stand-off in Christchurch
      New Zealand

      Man in custody after five-hour armed police stand-off in Christchurch

      26 Jun 02:04 AM
      Migrant worker financial advice provider has licence cancelled for breaching obligations
      Business

      Migrant worker financial advice provider has licence cancelled for breaching obligations

      26 Jun 02:01 AM
      How a law graduate's art purchase could deliver $1m to Auckland Gallery
      Lifestyle

      How a law graduate's art purchase could deliver $1m to Auckland Gallery

      26 Jun 02:00 AM
      Watch: ‘Heartbroken’ MPs pay tribute to Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp
      Politics

      Watch: ‘Heartbroken’ MPs pay tribute to Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp

      26 Jun 01:57 AM

      Latest from New Zealand

      Man in custody after five-hour armed police stand-off in Christchurch

      Man in custody after five-hour armed police stand-off in Christchurch

      26 Jun 02:04 AM

      Police were called to an address in Wilsons Rd.

      Watch: ‘Heartbroken’ MPs pay tribute to Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp
      live

      Watch: ‘Heartbroken’ MPs pay tribute to Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp

      26 Jun 01:57 AM
      From highway to the bush: Spiked car crashes, police dogs track down pair inside

      From highway to the bush: Spiked car crashes, police dogs track down pair inside

      26 Jun 01:53 AM
      The Country: Todd McClay on carbon farming

      The Country: Todd McClay on carbon farming

      26 Jun 01:51 AM
      Engage and explore one of the most remote places on Earth in comfort and style
      sponsored

      Engage and explore one of the most remote places on Earth in comfort and style

      NZ Herald
      • About NZ Herald
      • Meet the journalists
      • Newsletters
      • Classifieds
      • Help & support
      • Contact us
      • House rules
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of use
      • Competition terms & conditions
      • Our use of AI
      Subscriber Services
      • NZ Herald e-editions
      • Daily puzzles & quizzes
      • Manage your digital subscription
      • Manage your print subscription
      • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
      • Subscribe to Herald Premium
      • Gift a subscription
      • Subscriber FAQs
      • Subscription terms & conditions
      • Promotions and subscriber benefits
      NZME Network
      • The New Zealand Herald
      • The Northland Age
      • The Northern Advocate
      • Waikato Herald
      • Bay of Plenty Times
      • Rotorua Daily Post
      • Hawke's Bay Today
      • Whanganui Chronicle
      • Viva
      • NZ Listener
      • Newstalk ZB
      • BusinessDesk
      • OneRoof
      • Driven Car Guide
      • iHeart Radio
      • Restaurant Hub
      NZME
      • About NZME
      • NZME careers
      • Advertise with NZME
      • Digital self-service advertising
      • Book your classified ad
      • Photo sales
      • NZME Events
      • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
      All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
      Subscribe now

      All Access Weekly

      From $2 per week
      Pay just
      $15.75
      $2
      per week ongoing
      Subscribe now
      BEST VALUE

      All Access Annual

      Pay just
      $449
      $49
      per year ongoing
      Subscribe now
      Learn more
      30
      TOP
      search by queryly Advanced Search