Furuvik Zoo in Sweden has faced backlash for the fatal shooting of 4 of the seven chimpanzees that escaped from the enclosure on Wednesday.
Sharpshooters and several other law enforcement officials were called in to assist bring the situation under control, and the zoo defended its reason for not using sedatives.
“Sleeping shouldn’t be an option when a chimpanzee ventures outside its enclosure, risking the security of humans. You could have to be very near the animal to shoot tranquilizer arrows.” The zoo announced on its Facebook page.
“This, coupled with the indisputable fact that it could take as much as 10 minutes for anesthesia to take effect, would pose an amazing risk to human safety. When a chimpanzee is loose within the park, unfortunately you’ve gotten to shoot it to place it to sleep.”
The zoo announced on Saturday that three roaming chimpanzees – Maria-Magdalena, Tjobbe and Selma – had returned to their enclosure. The fourth, Manda, died from her injuries, the zoo revealed in its statement.
![Chimpanzees in Bioparc, Valencia, Spain.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/GettyImages-1440187972.jpg?w=1024)
The zoo said it was specializing in caring for the remaining animals, especially Selma, who was injured.
“What has happened is an amazing tragedy and an amazing failure on our part,” the zoo said in a Saturday update. “We’re all deeply saddened by what has happened and mourn our beloved chimpanzees Linda, Torsten, Santino and Manda.”
The statement continued: “We are going to now proceed to do every thing we will to care for our animals on the park. We are going to thoroughly investigate this tragic event. We’re very keen to unravel how this might have happened, and the investigation can show where we went improper or could have done things otherwise.”
The police are also reportedly investigating the incident as a violation of the Swedish Animal Welfare Act.
“I’m so pissed off. That is so unprofessional and incredibly incompetent,” Ing-Marie Persson, who headed the zoo’s primate management for three many years, told the media. Afton Bladet the zoo’s response to the incident.
The zoo was already closed to visitors for the season, but zoo officials said the escaped animals are still a threat. Personnel have been evacuated or ordered to remain indoors.
![The photo taken on December 15 shows the cordon near the main entrance of Furuvik Zoo](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/GettyImages-1245630604-e1671245856161.jpg?w=1024)
Cognitive zoologists at Lund University who’ve studied chimpanzees for years have revealed that they have suspended their cooperation with the zoo over the shootings.
“I might say I knew them personally. I hugged Manda, kissed Linda, and fought Santino.” – Researcher Mathias Osvath told the BBC, adding that the chimpanzees reportedly broke out of the enclosure a few years ago when visitors were there.
Considered a favourite of Swedish Princess Victoria, Santino was known for his artistic skills and stone attacks about zoo visitors from many years ago.