MONTREAL — One of the two men arrested in connection with the theft of a truck and trailer carrying a tiger and two camels last month was arraigned in a St. Hyacinthe courthouse on Wednesday.

Matthieu Bussieres, 22, was charged with theft and possession of stolen property, said Sgt. Ann Mathieu, spokesperson for the Quebec provincial police. He will remain in custody until his bail hearing next week.

Police arrested two men on Tuesday following a search at the home of one of the suspects in St. Edmond de Grantham, about 95 kilometres east of Montreal.

The second man arrested is 44 and will appear in court at a later date. His name has not yet been released.

Police declined to comment whether the arrests were made a result of a tip from the public.

Investigators found traces of the animals in one of the farm buildings, police say.

Further arrests could be made in coming days, police Sgt. Ronald McInnis said.

The motive for the theft is part of the investigation and could not be disclosed at this stage, McInnis said.

Jonas, a three-year-old tiger, and camels Shawn and Todd, both 5, disappeared June 18 from the parking lot of a motel in St. Liboire, about 20 kilometres east of St. Hyacinthe.

The animals were being hauled back from a circus in the Maritimes to their home at the Bowmanville Zoo, just east of Toronto.

The zoo paid a reward to the tipster who led them on June 21 to the three missing exotic animals, which were found safe, well-fed and still in their trailer.