There was quite a panic in Sweden yesterday (Wednesday), when five chimpanzees escaped from their cage in the Furvik zoo in the east of the country, and for hours they were not found by the police force that tried to track them down. Along with the police, several snipers and drones scanned the area from the air.
Finally relief came, the chimpanzees were located. When they were captured, three of them were shot to death, another one was injured by the shooting and the fifth chimpanzee returned to the cage safe and sound. Before the escape there were seven chimpanzees in the cage.
Photo: shutterstock
“They are very strong and untamed animals,” said local police spokesman Daniel Wikdel after the operation to capture them ended. He explained that the decision to shoot the chimpanzees was made by the zoo due to the danger they pose to the public.
The spokeswoman for the Forvik Zoo (165 kilometers north of Stockholm), Annika Troselius, admitted that they had no choice but to harm the animals: “The vets at the scene assessed that we did not have enough anesthetic. That’s why we called the snipers. This whole situation is tragic in every possible way. We accept full responsibility “.