Leipzig Zoo Monkey Theft Leads to Major Criminal Case

Three young men face serious charges, including armed robbery and extortion, after stealing a rare monkey and committing a spree of crimes across Germany.

• Bartaffen female Ruma was stolen from Leipzig Zoo on Easter weekend, marking the zoo's first animal theft in over 20 years.
• The accused, aged 18 to 20 from Russia and Ukraine, allegedly formed a criminal gang to carry out multiple offenses, including armed robberies and car thefts.
• The monkey was held in a garage in Chemnitz for several days before being released in a Leipzig park, where it was later found unharmed by a jogger.
• The case has been escalated to a higher court due to the severity of the charges, which include ten counts such as armed extortion and organized theft.
• Ruma has since been relocated to a zoo in Sofia, Bulgaria, as Leipzig Zoo discontinues its housing of Barbary macaques.

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