Death of the baby monkey in the Bremerhaven Zoo: Animal protection demands clarification!

Death of the baby monkey in the Bremerhaven Zoo: Animal protection demands clarification!

The killing of a baby chimpanzee at the Zoo by the Sea in Bremerhaven is causing a significant outcry among animal rights activists and the public. According to Borkener Zeitung, the incident is being investigated by the animal protection and veterinary service of the state of Bremen. The matter will be examined more closely from animal welfare and veterinary aspects.

The shocking event took place shortly after the cub was born. The baby chimpanzee was euthanized just two days after its birth because the mother, who suffered a circulatory collapse after the birth, showed no interest in the offspring and repeatedly pushed them away from her. As the Tagesschau reports, the mother was rescued by a veterinarian, but this could not prevent the baby chimpanzee from spending its short life in its mother's care.

The zoo's decision

The decision to euthanize the cub was made by the zoo to avoid unnecessary suffering. Zoo officials emphasize that hand-rearing is not considered under normal circumstances because it often interferes with species-typical behavior. However, they are also criticized. Animal protection organizations such as PETA accuse the zoo of handling the situation inappropriately and have announced criminal charges. According to PETA, this incident is a clear “scandal” and points out that the captivity of great apes in zoos is comparable to the lifelong imprisonment of humans.

PETA is demanding not only an autopsy of the killed chimpanzee, but also a comprehensive investigation into the physical and mental health of the chimpanzee mother and the social situation of the entire group. The organization has been criticizing zoo conditions for years because they have been linked to sudden deaths, behavioral problems and illnesses in great apes.

The context of zoo keeping

However, zoos today are under pressure to reform animal husbandry and environmental protection. As the example in tierschutzvereine.de shows, the days of animals in bare cages are over. Sustainable practices such as reducing water and energy consumption and effective waste management are now standard in many facilities. Zoos strive to become places of learning and environmental protection, which is also underlined by international accreditations.

It remains to be seen what results the coming investigations will bring. The incident at the Bremerhaven Zoo shows once again that the treatment of animals in captivity remains a sensitive issue that requires a lot of attention. The reactions from animal welfare organizations and the public are clear: there is a major concern here that cannot be ignored.