PRESS RELEASE . . . PRESS RELEASE. . . PRESS RELEASE . . .
Twycross, Tuesday 31st March 2009
Fowl Play at Twycross Zoo
A llama has disappeared from Twycross Zoo. The seventy-year-old llama called Beckett was last seen in its enclosure on the morning of Tuesday 31st March and was discovered to have gone missing by zookeeper Liz Cubberley. At the scene of the disappearance a photo of a short, round and hairy, bearded dwarf leprechaun riding Beckett was found and is being used as evidence in the case to discover Beckett’s whereabouts.
Zookeeper Liz Cubberely says, ‘I went to feed him as normal and discovered his enclosure had been completely dug over like a giant mole had been at work in the night, leaving a huge 30 foot mound of earth and a half a mile tunnel leading to the car park. I am very concerned for Beckett’s welfare and would like to appeal to the general public to help find and return him to his home.’
Staff at Twycross Zoo can confirm that CCTV footage has been carefully analyzed and has revealed that a man in his forties with grey hair carrying a notebook and pen was seen at the zoo on the morning of Wed 31st March, shortly before Beckett was discovered missing, acting suspiciously. The man has been unofficially identified as internationally bestselling children’s author of the Artemis Fowl series, Eoin Colfer. Mr Colfer’s latest book, Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox, deals with the theme of extinct species particularly focusing on one of the world’s most endangered primates, the silky sifaka lemur of Madagascar, which is needed to provide the antidote to a fatal disease contracted by Artemis Fowl’s mother.
Mr Colfer is being questioned in connection with the disappearance and gave the following statement, ‘I am an animal lover and an environmentalist. My latest book, Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox, bemoans the loss of thousands of endangered species across the globe, hopefully encouraging the legions of children who read my books to take a greater interest in the protection of animals and our natural world. I was at Twycross Zoo to study their collection of primate species, particularly the lemurs, who play an important role in my book.’
Authorities and zoo staff are trying to discover if there is a link between Mr Colfer’s research into lemurs and the disappearance of Beckett, the llama.
Security at the zoo have informed us that there should be some news by 12 noon on Wednesday 1st April.
Ends