Thanks to D for the link and title of this post.
LA Times | 50 is magic monkey number at Santa Ana Zoo (emphasis on the monkey quotes):
For decades, the family that gave the city the land for its small but popular zoo has kept tabs on the primate population. The deal was 50 monkeys. Anything less and the city would lose the land.
… “You can’t just go to Monkeys-R-Us or EBay to get monkeys,” said Kent Yamaguchi, interim director at the city zoo. “Populations of living things change, so certain things happen that you may not foresee because they’re living, breathing things.”
A prominent lawyer and land baron, Prentice kept monkeys and a gibbon in his 16-room mansion nearby, giving them such unfettered reign that he had trouble holding on to housekeepers. The home site is now an Elks Lodge.
… City officials said they take the terms of the agreement seriously and boasted of more than 60 primates, most of which are monkeys. For the moment, Powell said, he’s satisfied but intends to keep his eye on the zoo’s “Monkey Row.” And, his attorney has cautioned, the family will not accept any substitutes; “any form of lemurs or apes are not monkeys under any zoological definition.”
Not to be outdone in the Getting Of Attention department, a Nigerian goat is being held in police custody on suspicion of attempted armed robbery.
… Vigilantes took the black and white beast to the police saying it was an armed robber who had used black magic to transform himself into a goat to escape arrest after trying to steal a Mazda 323.
It turns out the most reliable witness is a rabbit. Police said to the goat, “Hare’s looking at you, kid.” Baaaaaa-dum-bum.
