Saudi Arabia recently changed its mind about giving a new home to four monkeys from a Swedish zoo, all because of a diplomatic spat, according to the BBC.
The four tiny pygmy marmosets, native to South American rainforests, were all set to move from a Stockholm zoo to a zoo in Riyadh. But a dispute over alleged human rights violations led Saudi Arabia to renege on the agreement.
"They don't want the monkeys anymore because of the political situation," said Jonas Wahlstrom, head of the Skansen zoo, according to the BBC.
The diplomatic row began in early March when Sweden reportedly stopped an arms deal over an alleged human rights controversy. Sweden Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom was also quoted in a speech calling for Arab countries to ensure "freedom of association, assembly, religion and expression" as well as equal rights for women.
Saudi Arabia attacked Wallstrom's speech as "offensive" and barred her from delivering the speech at last month's Arab League meeting in Egypt.
The feud escalated from there, with Saudia Arabia recalling its ambassador to Sweden, the BBC reported.
It's not clear when the pygmy marmosets, the smallest primates in the world, will see their new home in Riyadh. But workers at the zoo in Skansen don't seem too concerned about the situation.
"It's a little comical. I'll just have to wait until they grant visas to Swedish businessmen again," Wahlstrom told Radio Sweeden. "Maybe monkeys will get visas then too."
