Black Monkeys stolen

• Black monkeys belonged to a species endemic to Sri Lanka and endangered with extinction
• Breeding of a black monkey as a pet is illegal

By H.M. Dharmapala   

Four baby black monkeys under treatment at Attidiya Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Bellanwila had been stolen by unidentified individuals.  

Asst. Director Wildlife Conservation in Charge of the Rehabilitation Centre Madhawa Mihira Kumbukage told police that the incident had occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning. He said the black monkeys belonged to an animal species endemic to Sri Lanka and endangered with extinction as recorded in the Red Data Book and that the black monkey has been declared a protected animal under the Fauna and Flora Act No 49 of 1993. He pointed out that breeding of a black monkey as a pet in houses was illegal. 

Police said they examined the CCTV recordings to find that two individuals had been frequenting near the cage of the four baby monkeys and that they had left by motorcar.   
The public are requested to provide information, if any, on the individuals appearing in the photos to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre over the emergency hot line 1992 or 0113604147   
Mount Lavinia police are conducting further investigations. 

• Two individuals had been frequenting near the cage of the four monkeys and had left by motorcar