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2022 Furuvik Zoo chimpanzee shootings

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The 2022 Furuvik Zoo chimpanzee shootings occurred around 12 o'clock noon on Wednesday, 14 December, 2022, when a number of the chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) kept at Furuvik Zoo (Sw. Furuviksparken) in Furuvik, Gävle Municipality, Sweden, escaped from their enclosure into the chimpanzee building and park and made an attempt to exit the zoo itself, which was closed to the public for the winter season. The zoo staff responded by firing on the escaping apes, killing four of them.

The story gained domestic and international attention, and prompted debate about zoos and the keeping of great apes in captivity.[1][2] The incident has also been described as "the Massacre in Furuvik",[3] "the Furuvik Bloodbath",[4] and "the Chimpanzee Drama".[5]

History

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At around 12 p.m. on Wednesday, 14 December, 2022, two chimpanzees of Furuvik Zoo escaped from their enclosure through an unlocked lattice door[6] and entered the chimpanzee building. An animal keeper attempted to fight one off, but soon fled and warned other employees by yelling and using their radio. Within five minutes, at least two chimps had escaped the building and entered the wider zoo, which was closed to the public for the winter season.

Forty-five minutes later, two chimps were discovered at the park's fairground area. After consulting veterinarians, and excluding the use of anesthesia due to risks involved, the park's CEO and animal manager made the joint decision to shoot the two chimps. Zoo staff opened fire on them using live ammunition, killing Linda and her adoptive infant son Torsten. Later in the afternoon, three chimps escaped the chimpanzee building. Zoo staff again opened fire, wounding Selma, who retreated back inside. Manda and Santino repeatedly entered and exited the building through the windows. Fearing a possible return into the now-dark park, the decisions was made to shoot them as well. Santino was killed quickly, whilst Manda was mortally wounded. An unknown time after the shootings, Manda died of her gunshot wounds, while Selma sustained severe injuries to her eye, body, and arm.[6] The remaining two chimpanzees (Maria Magdalena and Tjobbe) remained inside the building. The decision to use lethal force rather than to attempt to use tranquilizers or otherwise recapture the apes resulted in widespread criticism.[1]

Following the deaths of the four chimpanzees, the Swedish Police Authority announce that they had opened an investigation against Furuvik Zoo for possible crimes against the Animal Welfare Act, and the County Administration of Gävleborg County announced that they would make inquiries into conditions at the zoo.[7]

List of chimpanzees involved

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Killed chimpanzees

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  • Santino (born 1978), a male chimpanzee born in captivity at Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich, Germany. He was well known for his proclivity for painting; his paintings, both copies and originals, were previously sold by the zoo for the benefit of the Swedish Chimpanzee Trust. Owners of Santino's paintings include Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Princess Madeleine of Sweden.[8] He has been described as "Crown Princess Victoria's favorite chimp".[9][10][1] In 2009 Santino gained attention from both news media and scientists when it became known that he had learned to stockpile stone ammunition in anticipation of throwing them at zoo visitors, behaviour which cognitive zoologists suggested indicated that planning and premeditated deception are not uniquely human traits.[11][12] He was castrated after this incident in an attempt to control his hormone levels and regulate his behaviour.[13] Santino was shot and killed inside the chimpanzee house.[1]
  • Linda (born c. 1980), a female chimpanzee born in the wild in Liberia and rescued after poachers killed her family. Linda was a Western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus), a critically endangered West African subspecies of the common chimpanzee. According to the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, Linda's death would not impact Western chimpanzee conservation efforts.[14] Linda was shot and killed in the park's fairground.[1]
  • Manda (born 2004), a female chimpanzee born in captivity at Kolmården Wildlife Park and transferred to Furuvik Zoo after she was orphaned as an infant. She became well known in Sweden after becoming the focus of the television show Schimpansen Manda , featured in the Bolibompa children's television series soon after the move to Furuvik.[15] Manda was shot and mortally wounded inside the chimpanzee house.[15]
  • Torsten (born 2019), a male chimpanzee infant born in captivity at Furuvik Zoo, the first born there in 25 years.[15] His parents were Maria Magdalena and Tjobbe, but Linda was seen as his adoptive mother. Torsten was shot and killed in the park's fairground.[16]

Surviving chimpanzees

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Reactions

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The chimpanzee shootings provoked intense media coverage and debate, both domestically in Sweden and abroad. Several political figures commented, including the Green Party politicians Märta Stenevi and Rebecka Le Moine who questioned the state of animal captivity in Sweden, the Sweden Democratic politician Yasmine Eriksson who called for a review of all Swedish zoos, and the Christian Democratic politician Peter Kullgren, Minister for Rural Affairs, who expressed sadness but refrained from commenting on ongoing investigations.[23] Numerous Swedish celebrities and public figures also expressed sadness or condemnation, including Johanna Lind, Jessica Almenäs, Uno Svenningsson, Micael Bindefeld, Thomas Di Leva, Lars-Åke Wilhelmsson, and Linda Lindorff.[24]

The chimpanzee shootings also prompted many reactions from biologists and conservationists. When interviewed about the incident, the noted Dutch primatologist Frans de Waal expressed shock that the 3-year old chimpanzee infant Torsten was among those killed by the zoo, as such a young ape did not pose any physical danger to humans.[25] The Dutch behavioural biologist Patrick van Veen, chair of the Jane Goodall Institute commented on the incident that recapture by non-lethal means, such as tranquilizers, should always be the first priority during chimpanzee escapes, and that lethal force should only be used in the worst-case scenario.[26] The Swedish cognitive zoologist Mathias Osvath, who has spent years researching the chimpanzees at Furuvik Zoo, expressed sorrow over the incident and concern for the trauma experienced by the chimpanzee survivors, further announcing the immediate suspension of the Primate Research Station Furuvik, a joint research programme between the Cognitive Zoology Group of Lund University and Furuvik Zoo.[27][1][28]

Camilla Bergvall, chair of the Swedish animal rights organization Djurens Rätt, condemned the actions of Furuvik Zoo and the wider keeping of animals in captivity in Sweden.[29] On the other hand, the zookeeper Jonas Wahlström, director of the Skansen Aquarium, defended the zoological parks of Sweden as necessary and positive forces in society.[30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Sweden Furuvik zoo: Anger over shooting of chimpanzees in zoo escape". BBC News. 17 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Four chimpanzees still loose inside Swedish zoo a day after escape". The Guardian. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  3. ^ Söderberg, Ida (15 December 2022). "Ett kvitto på människans totala uselhet". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  4. ^ Brodrej, Gunilla (14 December 2022). "Djurparken har orsakat ett blodbad". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Schimpansdramat på Furuviksparken". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Information gällande situationen med schimpanserna på Furuvik. Uppdatering, 14 april 2023 [Information regarding the situation with the chimpanzees at Furuvik. Update, April 14, 2023]". Furuvik (in Swedish). April 14, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023. The external investigation of the chimpanzee escape completed – Identifies flaws in routines and the systematic security work
  7. ^ Botsjö, Markus (15 December 2022). "Furuviksparken polisanmäld efter flyktincidenten". Sveriges Television (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  8. ^ Martikainen, Rebecka (24 March 2012). "Santinos tavlor säljs för 10 000". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Crown Princess's favourite chimp dies as Furuviksparken zoo drama ends". The Local. 17 December 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  10. ^ Hartelius, Axel (15 December 2022). "Hemska beskedet från Furuvik – Victorias favoritapa kan finnas bland de döda". Svensk Damtidning (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Zoo chimp 'planned' stone attacks". BBC News. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  12. ^ Osvath, Mathias; Karvonen, Elin (9 May 2012). "Spontaneous Innovation for Future Deception in a Male Chimpanzee". PLOS One. 7 (5): e36782. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...736782O. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036782. PMC 3348900. PMID 22590606.
  13. ^ Sample, Ian (9 March 2009). "Chimp who threw stones at zoo visitors showed human trait, says scientist". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  14. ^ Steiner, Hamilton (16 December 2022). "Kraftigt hotad underart bland aporna som dödats på Furuviksparken". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  15. ^ a b c Groop, Tomas; Landén, Catrin; Roos, Jimmy (17 December 2022). "De var Furuviksparkens "kändisar"". Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  16. ^ Blomberg, Linnea (16 December 2022). "Schimpanserna Linda och Torsten sköts ihjäl". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  17. ^ de Verdier, Ulle (23 July 2008). "Schimpans-bebisen fick komma till människobyn". Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  18. ^ a b c Sjögren, Anna; Sundbeck, Johanna; Fernstedt, Nora (16 December 2022). "Linda och Torsten två av de döda schimpanserna". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  19. ^ Olsson, Thomas (16 December 2022). "Furuviksparken: Ytterligare en schimpans skadad – Selma kan inte röra armen". Gefle Dagblad (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  20. ^ "Update, March 9". Furuvik. March 9, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  21. ^ a b Swälas, Moniqa (26 December 2015). "Schimpanserna på Furuvik är både pridepolare och kärlekskonkurrenter". Ljusnan (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  22. ^ Öhlander, Sofia (22 April 2015). "Schimpansen Tjobbe skolas in i Furuvik". Gefle Dagblad (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  23. ^ Ingmo, Daniel (16 December 2022). "Kravet från SD: Granska alla svenska djurparker". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  24. ^ Bratell, Johan (15 December 2022). "Kändisarnas starka reaktioner efter dödade schimpanserna". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  25. ^ ""Otroligt att döda en treåring – utgör absolut ingen fara"". Expressen. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  26. ^ Lindström, Albin (16 December 2022). "Jane Goodall Institute: "Att skjuta skarpt är det sista man ska göra"". Sveriges Television (in Swedish).
  27. ^ "Lundaforskare avbryter forskning om schimpanserna på Furuvik". Sveriges Television (in Swedish). 16 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  28. ^ "The Cognitive Zoology Group : Primate Research Station Furuvik". www.lucs.lu.se. Lund University. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  29. ^ Lännerholm, Hannes (16 December 2022). "Djurens rätts ilska efter ännu en incident på djurparker". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  30. ^ Friberg, Anna (16 December 2022). ""Folk förstår inte syftet med djurparker"". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 December 2022.
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