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Thieving Japan keeper steals, eats and sells chimpanzee treats, leaves zoo short of food

Officials at popular, century-old facility call in police after noticing that their animal food bank was running short on supplies

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Police in Japan are investigating a zookeeper suspected of stealing animal food supplies for his own use, and profit. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
Fran Luin Beijing

A Japanese zookeeper accused of stealing food from the animals under his care has shocked many people online.

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The Tennoji Zoo in western Japan’s Osaka prefecture reported a series of thefts to the police after discovering unusual fruit and vegetable losses from their animal food bank.

Police investigators eventually narrowed their search for a culprit to a 47-year-old zookeeper, who worked at the Animal Care and Breeding Showcase department at the facility.

The unidentified man was caught sneaking out monkeys and chimpanzee’s food on October 1, Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun reported on October 2.

The culprit is thought to have focused his crimes on food for chimpanzees. Photo: Shutterstock
The culprit is thought to have focused his crimes on food for chimpanzees. Photo: Shutterstock

The police said they were still investigating the man’s motive.

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