The #1 source for news about monkeys and apes

["carrie mclaren" <brooklynite282 AT gmail.com>]

Keepers shoot escaped chimpanzee
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/7019720.stm
Saturday, 29 September 2007

Keepers have shot dead a chimp who escaped from his enclosure at
Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire.

The zoo was closed as staff tried to round up two chimps - called
Jonnie and Coco - who escaped at about 1000 BST.

Visitors already in the park were told to stay in their cars or were
taken to secure locations.

Coco was recovered unharmed, but keepers were unable to capture Jonnie
safely and he was shot, said a Whipsnade Zoo spokesman.
        
Procedures were followed by staff and in the interests of public
safety, Jonnie was shot
Whipsnade statement

An inquiry to find out how the pair, who were two of eight chimps at
Whipsnade, got out of their three-year-old purpose built enclosure has
started.

In a statement the zoo said: "As soon as members of staff were aware
of the occurrence, the Escaped Animal Procedure was immediately
commenced.

"All members of the public were led to safe and secure locations or
instructed to remain in their vehicles."

Coco recaptured

The statement said there were no injuries to either staff or members
of the public.

It added: "Keepers moved quickly to recapture the two chimpanzees,
Jonnie and Coco.

"Procedures were followed by staff and in the interests of public
safety, Jonnie was shot.

"Coco was quickly recaptured and is now safely in the hands of her keepers."

There were eight chimps at Whipsnade: 23-year-old Nicky, a male;
Bonnie Louise who is 21; Zephyr, a 15-year-old male; Grant and Phil,
both aged 11; Elvis, aged five, and Coco and Jonnie who were
transferred from London Zoo in 2006.