Bedford Animal Action

Chimp Death at Whipsnade Zoo - Demand an Inquiry

One of the chimps at Whipsnade Zoo
(photo courtesy of CAPS)

Last year Whipsnade Zoo made the news when it shot one of its chimps dead after it had escaped.  Two chimps, Jonnie and Coco, escaped from their enclosure at approximately 10am on 29th September 2007.  The zoo was temporarily closed and visitors told to stay in their cars or taken into buildings whilst zoo staff attempted to recapture the chimpanzees.  Coco was successfully caught but Jonnie was not so lucky as the zoo took the decision to shoot him dead claiming that this was necessary to protect public health and safety.

Campaigners from Bedford Animal Action have been in contact with South Beds District Council, the local authority responsible for licensing the zoo, and DEFRA calling for a public inquiry into the tragedy.  It seems at present that both organisations are attempting to pass the buck’ claiming that they have no authority to hold a public inquiry and that this is the responsibility of the other organisation.

The Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS) has also called for an independent inquiry.  In a statement CAPS said “Animals escape from zoos on a frighteningly regular basis, yet most cases are never brought to the public’s attention.  In none of these cases has there been any independent enquiries into the escapes.

“These animals are just doing what is natural to them, to try and escape an unnatural confinement.  Zoos restrict the lives of animals, often resulting in disturbed behaviours and other welfare problems.

“How many of these incidents have to happen before local authorities, which licence zoos, take serious action to protect the public, zoo staff and animals?”

Full coverage of the story by CAPS can be found at:

http://www.captiveanimals.org/news/2007/zoo_shoots_chimp.html

Local newspaper reports covering the story can be found at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/7019720.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/7022715.stm

http://www.dunstabletoday.co.uk/dunstable-news/Marksmen-kill-escaped-W hipsnade-chimp.3244847.jp

National newspapers also covered the story:

http://timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2558255.ece

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/30/nchimp s130.xml

The story also made the news in other parts of the world:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3673326

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/10/01/uk.chimp.ap/index.html

Maurice Clay, Senior Environmental Health Officer, South Bedfordshire District Council, The District Offices, High Street North, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 1LF, Tel: 08458 496066, Email: maurice.clay@southbeds.gov.uk

Chris Hussey, Wildlife Species Conservation, DEFRA, 1/08, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6EB, Tel: 0117 3728209, Email: christopher.hussey@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Whipsnade Zoo can be contacted at Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 2LF, Tel: 01582 872171

Points to make could include:

• How was it possible for the chimps to escape in the first place, considering that a purpose-built enclosure had been built only three years previously?  Is there an ongoing risk to public safety?
• What efforts were made to capture Jonnie without resorting to lethal force?  According to some reports Jonnie was shot just minutes after escaping and before Coco apparently gave herself up to the keepers.  Could tranquilizer darts have been used?
• How great was the real risk to public health and safety?  Apparently the escape happened just after opening time when the zoo would not have had many visitors.  Immediately after the event one keeper at Whipsnade Zoo described Jonnie as a ‘bit of a thug’, however David Field, zoological director of London Zoo, where the chimps both lived for several years prior to 2006, stated that Jonnie had a ‘gentle disposition’.

For more information on zoos in Bedfordshire visit our campaign page…Whipsnade and Woburn - The Reality of Zoos.
Further information on zoos and aquaria and captive animals in general can be found on CAPS website at www.captiveanimals.org.