(Image Source: Flickr ) 

 

BY LYNDSEY GARZA 

ANCHOR NEVILLE MILLER

 

A three-month-old chimp was mauled by an adult male chimpanzee at the Los Angeles Zoo Tuesday. Horrified visitors watched as zoo staff members were unable to intervene. Los Angeles’ KCBS has the story...

“ … visitors watched as a male chimp attacked the infant. One took this cell phone footage just before the adult removed the infant from the rest of the troupe and began striking her in the head. The girl chimp was the first chimp born at the zoo in 13 years.”

Zoo officials say sometimes male chimpanzees will kill the babies of the females they’re interested in mating with. However, it is unknown why this adult male — the baby’s uncle — attacked. A zoo official told MSNBC they plan to further investigate their approach to introducing new animals into a habitat.

“We’re going to have to consider, at what age maybe we introduce babies to the group. I didn’t think that this was going to be a problem. These are all experienced, social chimps.”

The LA Times says chimpanzees can be violent and aggressive over territory, so zoo officials gradually introduced the baby chimp into the habitat. Zoo officials said there were “no indications of problems”. A blogger for The Stir says it is natural for chimpanzees to protect their territory, but questions — is it moral to suppress animal instincts?

“It's amazing, if you think about it, that stuff like this doesn't happen more often. I guess the zoos do a great job of anticipating and counteracting natural animistic inclination, but you have to wonder, is that something that should be applauded, or outlawed?”

A blogger for the LA Weekly says Chimpanzees are an endangered species, which has prompted negative feedback on social media sites for zoo captivity of the animal.

“The baby chimp killed at the zoo today is one of the countless reasons why I’m against zoos. Imprisoning animals is inhumane.”

“I’m actually really really sad that a baby chimp got killed by an adult chimp and no one stopped him.”

“That murdered baby chimp story is ruining my banana pancakes.”

The Los Angeles zoo has been criticized for the care given to other animals in the zoo’s exhibits. According to the Huffington Post , a lawsuit has been filed for a 27-year-old elephant who is allegedly “overweight, depressed and sexually frustrated”. A writer for the Los Feliz Ledger explains.

“The chimp death comes at a time when the zoo is being scrutinized for its animal care and facilities. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge is currently deciding, after closing arguments June 25th, if the zoo’s “Elephants of Asia” exhibit should be shut down, as the lawsuit seeks.”

According to CBS News , the baby chimp was left in the habitat overnight to allow the mother, Gracie, to grieve.