The West Palm Beach Police Department is seeking the public's help in locating a 12-year-old monkey named Kali they say was stolen from the Palm Beach Zoo Monday morning.
The zoo says Kali is a goeldi's monkey, which is from South American rainforests and worth around $10,000 on the black market.
She is on a special diet and on anti-inflammatory medicine and weighs one pound.
“It’s one of our children missing, so tonight we would just like to ask, if someone knows something or saw something, if they would reach out we would be very grateful,” says Naki Carter, a zoo spokeswoman.
Carter says Kali is microchipped and, along with the photo of a monkey that looks like like Kali, is considered their best lead, but citing the investigation, couldn’t explain further.
"I wish I could be less cryptic about the microchip,” she said.
Last April, two modified shotguns were stolen out of a safe on zoo grounds while the park was closed.
In 2009, a parrot, three squirrel monkeys and goeldi were stolen from the zoo by three teens. Using wire cutters, they broke in. Working on a tip, the animals were discovered in a shed behind an abandoned home nearby the zoo less than 24 hours later in sweltering heat, but alive.
"We are holding onto hope that the same thing that can happen nearly 10 years later,” Carter said.
The zoo would not say how exactly someone broke in or say what security measures are in place, and how they improved security after 2009.
There is a Crime Stopper reward out for $3,000 if anyone has information.
We need your help finding Kali, who was #stolen from the @PalmBeachZoo this morning. 12-yr-old #Kali looks exactly like this #Goeldi’s #monkey; weighs one pound, & needs medication. Know something? call @CrimeStoppersPB; you can remain anonymous & may be eligible for a reward. pic.twitter.com/VwR2WB2mnF
— West Palm Beach PD (@WestPalmPD) February 11, 2019
