Three endangered monkeys have been stolen from a wildlife park south of Sydney, one of whom is a baby who might die if left without its mother.
Staff at Symbio Wildlife Park noticed that entry had been forced to the enclosure and that three pygmy marmoset monkeys - a male, young female and a baby - were missing.
Inspector Charlie Hutchins told AAP that if the monkeys were not found within 24 hours, it was likely the baby, who is still dependent on suckling from its mother, would die.
He said the zookeeper told him that it's twin left back at the zoo could also face death because the mother was too stressed about her stolen offspring to feed it.
Pygmy marmoset monkeys are the smallest of their kind, endangered and very difficult to breed.
No witnesses of the theft have come forward yet and police are appealing to the public to contact Wollongong Police or Crimestoppers.
