published6. September 2022, 21:10
LeipzigChimpanzees violently drive past leaders to their deaths
The former senior chimpanzee, Robert, was so cornered that he fell into a ditch and drowned.
Within the group of chimpanzees, there are said to have recently been violent arguments.
imago/Stylbruch
Zoo Director Jörg Junhold was “deeply shocked” by the incident.
imago/Stylbruch
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The 47-year-old great ape was pushed into a moat by his group members.
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There he drowned.
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He used to be the leader of the group, but recently there have been heated arguments.
The 47-year-old chimpanzee Robert drowned in a ditch in the Leipzig Zoo while trying to escape from other great apes. Because of violent arguments in the chimpanzee group, the former highest-ranking male, who has since been downgraded in the hierarchy, was apparently cornered by group members in such a way that he got into a deep ditch beyond the safety limits, the zoo announced on Tuesday.
Zoo director is “deeply shocked”
Robert drowned there, nurses were only able to save him dead a few days ago. Chimpanzees cannot swim. Zoo Director Jörg Junhold was “deeply shocked” by the incident. Aggressive conflicts in groups of chimpanzees can therefore not be ruled out. Fatal cases have also been regularly observed by researchers in wild chimpanzee populations. In the so-called Pongoland in the Leipzig Zoo, which also has a large outdoor area with moats, it was the first such incident.
(afp/fis)