Escaped Chimpanzee Shot By Zoo Keepers In ‘The Interest Of Public Safety’

The case of the chimpanzee shot to death after breaking free from its zoo enclosure has sparked outrage amongst animal activists. Two chimps tunnelled their way out of their enclosure at Whipsnade this weekend. Keepers were able to capture Coco, the younger of the two chimps, but were unable to catch 41-year-old Jonnie. The zoo have claimed they shot ‘him in the interest of public safety’.

Anti-zoo campaigners are not happy. They are encouraging their supporters to forward this e-mail:

“I am absolutely sickened by this and will be withdrawing all support for your organisations. You could have sedated this animal rather than kill it! The public’s safety was never compromised by this escaped chimp!”

Campaigns Director of Animal Defenders International, Tim Phillips has told Sky News that the shooting forces us to reflect on why zoos exist,

“This animal is comparable to a small child in terms of emotions. We need to ask why they couldn’t use a tranquilliser dart and why these animals are cooped up for our entertainment in the first place.”

Conservationists insist that staff at Whipsnade made the absolute right decision. Stella Marsden, who set up the world’s first chimpanzee rehabilitation project in the Gambia has supported the zoo’s decision,

“A 41-year-old male chimp can be an extremely dangerous animal. Chimps can become hyper on tranquillisers, so that could have made things worse.”

Coco is now back behind bars with the six other chimps at Whipsnade and an investigation has begun.

Creul or Kind: did the zoo make the right decision?

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