Many social media users and activists were outraged at the killing, and highlighted that two jaguars were killed at the same zoo in 2018 after escaping their cages.
ANNA WICHMANN: A male chimpanzee was shot dead after escaping from its enclosure at the Attica Zoological Park, which is located just outside of Athens, on Saturday. The killing of the animal, as well as the details surrounding its escape from the zoo, which is located in the Athens suburb of Spata, have come under scrutiny since the chimpanzee’s death.
Social media users and animal rights activists have raised questions regarding the quality of care for the animals held at the zoo, which is privately owned and has been scrutinized regarding the welfare of its animals in the past.
According to the zoo, the chimpanzee [named Bazoo], was 27 years old and stood at 1.80 m (5’10) before HIS death, was able to escape its cage, get over an electric fence, and then make HIS way to the zoo’s parking lot… [Ηe was the oldest of a total 9 chimpanzees in the Attica Park and was reportedly living there in the last 15 years
Coming under criticism for its decision to shoot the animal, the Attica Zoo released a statement, saying: “The police were informed, the visitors were isolated and the chimpanzee, with the coordinated actions by the security staff in the presence of the veterinarians, was taken to an isolated area on the security perimeter of the Park, where it was deemed necessary to neutralize it 20 minutes later.”
Many people questioned why the animal was killed rather than simply sedated, but the zoo stated that the extremely high levels of adrenaline in the chimpanzee’s system meant that sedating it was not possible, as it could take around 20 minutes for the drugs to take effect.
Jean-Jacques Lesueur, the owner of the zoo, claimed that there was no other possible solution to handling the escape of the animal while speaking to the Greek television network Alpha on Saturday. “Chimpanzees belong to the red and highest risk category, so according to the safety protocols and the risk assessment by the present and competent veterinarians, who observe the behavior of the animal, their neutralization is considered,” Lesueur stated…
Despite this statement, many social media users and activists were outraged at the killing, and highlighted that two jaguars were killed at the same zoo in 2018 after escaping their cages… [The Attica Park has come under fire several times in the past especially due to the dolphins it keeps and the show they performed]…
Many organizations, including the Panhellenic Animal Welfare and Environmental Federation, have organized protests outside of the zoo. An investigation will be conducted into both how the chimpanzee escaped and whether or not its killing was justified. SOURCE…
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