Police Scotland are still trying to find out whether a marmoset found in a Fife lay-by is one of two monkeys stolen in Nairn last weekend.
The marmoset was handed in to a vet surgery in Fife on Monday by a member of the public, who claimed to have found it in a shoebox on the road between Kincardine and High Valleyfield.
The monkey is now in the care of the Scottish SPCA’s Edinburgh Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Balerno.
Scottish SPCA Inspector Sarah Gregory said: “The person reported finding the animal in a lay-by on the road between Kincardine and High Valleyfield. Unfortunately we have been unable to speak with them ourselves and are appealing to this person to get in touch with us.
“At this stage we can’t confirm whether this is linked to the two monkeys who were reported stolen in the Inverness area. We are currently working alongside the police and are asking anyone with information to get in touch.”
Two common marmosets, a baby aged 11 weeks and another 12 months old, were taken from the Balmakeith drive area of Nairn between 4.30pm and 10.50pm on Saturday.
They were stolen a short time after a man, who had gone to the house seeking work cleaning gutters, said he wanted to buy the pair.
He is described as white, in his late 20s, short, and of medium build.
The man had a roundish face, no facial hair, and spoke with no distinctive accent.
Anyone with information on the reported theft of the monkeys in Nairn or the monkey found in Fife is urged to contact or Police on 101 or the Scottish SPCA animal helpline on 03000 999 999.