A female golden-lion tamarin named Zlatka has returned to ZooParc de Beauval after being stolen from the facility 11 years ago [1].

The recovery of the rare primate highlights the long-term efforts of international wildlife authorities to track stolen animals across borders. Because golden-lion tamarins are high-value targets for the illegal pet trade, the return of a specimen after a decade is a rare occurrence.

Zlatka was taken during a burglary at the zoo in Saint-Aignan, located in the Loir-et-Cher region of France, in 2015 [2]. During that incident, a total of 17 small primates were stolen [3]. Other reports indicate that 16 other monkeys were taken alongside the tamarin [4].

Authorities located the animal in Slovakia, where she had been kept at a private residence [1]. Following a repatriation process, Zlatka was returned to the zoo on May 28, 2024 [1]. The news of her return was announced on June 1, 2024 [2].

The emotional impact of the recovery was significant for the zoo staff and supporters. One report said, "L'émotion a été immense" [5] regarding the animal's return to her home in France.

ZooParc de Beauval has not released further details regarding the current health status of the tamarin or the legal proceedings against those who held her in Slovakia. The case serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities zoos face regarding organized theft of endangered species.

“Zlatka has returned to ZooParc de Beauval after being stolen from the facility 11 years ago”

The repatriation of Zlatka underscores the persistence of illegal wildlife trafficking networks and the effectiveness of long-term monitoring. The fact that a primate stolen in 2015 was only recovered in 2024 suggests that stolen animals are often moved through multiple private hands across European borders, making recovery dependent on intelligence-led operations rather than immediate police action.