March 21, 2024, 1:16 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
A monkey suddenly appeared on a terrace in Moosburg an der Isar, Bavaria. Fortunately, the animal was captured. Shortly afterward, the owner came forward, but staff at the Munich animal rescue center had doubts about the monkey’s proper care. Just before authorities were set to investigate, “Cleo” disappeared without a trace. PETBOOK spoke with the Munich reptile rescue center about the case’s background.
On March 11, a small monkey in Bavaria caught media attention when a man discovered the animal on his terrace. This was reported by the Reptile Rescue Center, Munich e.V., among others, in a press release. Fortunately, the marmoset was successfully captured. A few days later, the owner came forward but claimed the monkey was not her “Cleo.” When the rescue center refused to return the animal, she threatened to take the monkey back to Poland.
PETBOOK spoke with Thomas Türbl, a specialist veterinarian for reptiles and secretary of the Reptile Rescue Center, and spokesperson Jennifer Vogl about the background of this bizarre case. Suddenly, “Cleo” was indeed nowhere to be found. According to the veterinary office, the monkey was taken to Poland.
Monkey from Bavaria Originates from Private Ownership
After the successful rescue from the terrace, the Moosburg police were initially informed, and the animal was then taken to the Reptile Rescue Center in Munich. Several days after the monkey was found in Bavaria, the owner appeared with the necessary documents at the Moosburg police station, as reported by the Munich newspaper “Merkur.”
However, it was not the owner herself but her daughter who became aware of the situation after learning about the incident through media reports. “The lady herself had noticed the loss of the animal but, according to my colleagues, was calling through the neighborhood to find it,” Jennifer Vogl told PETBOOK. “She hadn’t heard about it in the media herself.”
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Doubts About the Monkey’s Appropriate Housing
Although the station’s veterinarian, Thomas Türbl, confirmed to PETBOOK that the monkey found in Bavaria was “doing quite well,” the staff had doubts about whether the animal was being kept appropriately. “Only one animal is reportedly registered there, and the monkey is apparently also kept in the apartment,” the “Merkur” quotes Jennifer Vogl.
It is not appropriate to keep the animals alone, the spokesperson confirmed to PETBOOK. “We have communicated this to the woman and the authorities again. We also suspect that the animal does not have suitable facilities where it can climb and live according to its needs, and that the climate is not adjusted.” The rescue center therefore informed the responsible veterinary office to check the compliance with species protection regulations on site.
Owner Wanted to Return the Monkey
But shortly after the owner from Bavaria picked up her monkey, she contacted the rescue center about a possible return, Jennifer Vogl informed. Allegedly, it was not her monkey. “Cleo” would have otherwise enjoyed eating ice cream and pasta or drinking cappuccino, according to the owner’s explanation. The animal also used to cuddle a lot and always sought the owner’s proximity. This behavior is no longer shown.
According to Vogl, this is quite possible. “At the rescue center, the animal was fed appropriately and may now refuse unsuitable food,” she said. “Additionally, the animal experienced a lot of stress, which can lead to an acute behavioral change, especially in monkeys.”
Staff Suspect Another Reason
According to the staff at the Reptile Rescue Center in Munich, the real reason for the desired return was the impending inspection by the veterinary office.
“We learned from a conversation that the animal has been living alone for years in a combination of a small cage and free run in the living room, not being cared for in a species-appropriate and behaviorally appropriate manner, and we passed this information on to the responsible authorities. They assured us of a quick inspection of the housing,” Vogl said.
Monkey Taken from Bavaria to Poland
When the rescue center refused to take the monkey back, the owner finally threatened to take the animal to Poland. There, she claimed, they wouldn’t have such requirements and would know how to handle the monkey, Vogl quoted the woman.
When the veterinary office came for an inspection on March 15, they did not find the owner. Vogl suspects she followed through on her threats over the following weekend: “Cleo” is no longer there.
An inquiry from PETBOOK to the responsible district office in Freising confirmed the suspicion. Spokesperson Tobias Grießer stated that no one was found during the on-site inspection. Therefore, the animal keepers were asked via a note to contact the veterinary office of the Freising district office. The following Monday, the district office received information from the owner that the animal had been taken to Poland in the meantime.
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What Happens Next with Cleo?
The district office is currently reviewing possible legal actions in the case, spokesperson Grießer told PETBOOK.
The rescue center in Munich is no longer the official contact in the case after the monkey was returned, Vogl said. “In our work, we unfortunately often encounter cases where animals are cared for and ‘loved’ under very personal, human conditions and ideas,” the spokesperson said. However, when higher costs and requirements come into play to implement truly good care, the animals quickly become objects and must ‘disappear.’