Rare monkeys smuggled into Turkey seized

By Muhammed Samil Aliagaoglu

SIRNAK, Turkey (AA) - Endangered tropical monkeys were seized in Turkey on Monday.

Turkish forces stopped a car entering the country from the Habur border crossing with Iraq. Four spider monkeys were found in the car.

The monkeys were transferred to a nature conservation park in the southeastern Sirnak province.

A suspect, identified only by the initials S.T., was issued a fine.

Orhan Kalay, manager of the nature conservation park, said that the merchandising of spider monkeys was banned in Turkey.

"The monkeys are now being cared for, we are giving them food. We will then deliver them to the zoo in Gaziantep," he said.

*Writing by Burak Dağ in Ankara