Third stolen monkey found dumped on Sydney vet doorstep
The third Pygmy Marmoset monkey stolen from a wildlife park has been found dumped in a box at a veterinary clinic south of Sydney.
According to police, Gomez was found "alive and well" inside a box on the front doorstep of a vet in Tahmoor on Monday night.
Gomez was one of three monkeys, including a young female and a baby, stolen from the Symbio Wildlife Park on Friday night.
Arrangements are being made to have Gomez returned to the wildlife park on Monday night.
The discovery comes just hours after police opposed bail for Jackson George, one of two brothers caught with a stolen monkey in their car on Sunday.
Appearing in court alongside his brother Jesse, the duo pleaded guilty to dealing with the proceeds of crime. It is not alleged the duo were involved in the theft of the monkeys from the park.
But police have accused Jackson George of obtaining the monkey from the thief or thieves and planning to sell it, after text messages were allegedly found on his phone.
Court documents show Jackson was communicating with a third person, Ryan, who offered to sell the baby monkey to the 23-year-old.
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"Ay, check out my monkey," Ryan said in a text message with a picture of the animal, which was tendered in court.
"That's mad bro. Wanna sell it bruh?" Jackson responded.
Ryan told Jackson he "paid nothing" for the monkey, but "got it from the zoo last night".
Later on in the conversation, when Ryan asked how much they could sell the Pygmy Marmoset for, Jackson suggested "500" (presumably $500).
"But haven't been offered any in ages bro," he texted.
There was also evidence the pair had planned to sell a snake and a joey.
Police and zookeepers had been desperate to find the suckling infant after experts warned it would likely die if it spent more than 24 hours without its mother.
The wildlife park said the hungry and scared baby had been reunited with its mother and sister.
"Mum cradled the baby straight into her arms and bub immediately began to feed," the park said on its Facebook page.
"Early observations this morning are promising, with two bright eyed twins observed on mum's back - so a great result."
Magistrate Clare Farnan sentenced Jessie to a two-year good behaviour bond and fined him $1500 for being an accomplice to the crime.
Jackson was granted bail until his sentencing on January 10.
