Antje Engelhardt (Primatologist): The cause of the animals' deaths (fire), will likely greatly affect them. They are social creatures. They are attached to their relatives and friends the same way we are to ours.
DW: ‘The cause of the fire that destroyed the Great Ape House at the Krefeld Zoo in Germany on New Year’s Eve seems to have been found. On Thursday, three women contacted local police, saying they purchased sky lanterns online and had launched them on New Year’s Eve. The lanterns are illegal in most German states, though the three said they thought they were allowed on New Year’s Eve. They contacted police after it was reported that the fire that ravaged the ape house had been caused by one such lantern. The ensuing fire killed more than 30 animals.
According to primate researcher Antje Engelhardt about how the tragedy would affect the animals that survived the blaze… “They are social creatures and are attached to their partners. They are attached to their relatives and friends the same way we are to ours. The cause of those animals’ deaths — the fire — will also likely greatly affect them… . Even creatures that are far less intelligent than apes experience trauma”…
Regarding whether primates should be kept in zoos, she stated: “I am personally opposed to keeping apes in zoos. After observing apes in the wild, it is hard for me to see them in captivity. Humans prefer freedom of movement to captivity — even if that freedom brings about a host of other problems. It seems to me that apes share that preference”.’ SOURCE…
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