Merseyside: Baboon Shot Dead In Safari Park

[Jazzy]

A baboon has been shot dead after it escaped from the Knowsley Safari Park in Merseyside.

The adult male baboon climbed over a perimeter fence at the park before being shot by a game keeper.

It had been forced out of its enclosure by a group of adult males as it tried to protect its mate.

In a statement the safari park said: "At 8.20am on Sunday morning, the animal emergency procedure was activated after an adult male baboon was chased out of the enclosure by more than 20 other males.

"The baboon tried to protect his only female from being abducted by antagonist males - a common occurrence in baboon society.

"Cornered, he saw the outside of the enclosure as his safe way out and decided to face the electric fence to protect himself.

"The emergency procedures were immediately instigated, aiming to retrieve the baboon to a safe area. The police and the game keeper of the estate were contacted to assist.

"The baboon was located just outside the perimeter fence of the park. Sadly, in this situation, the safety measurement requires the animal to be shot. The estate's game keeper took the appropriate action."

Staff at the zoo tracked the baboon for almost two hours inside the Knowsley estate.

Once the animal left the estate, staff decided it would have to be shot in the interest of public safety.

"The team at Knowsley Safari care for every animal housed at the park," the statement continued.

"It's very sad when something like this happens, but the police, game keeper and animal management team did everything they could to resolve the situation quickly, safely and humanely."

Source

Safely and humanely? Guess they've never heard of using tranquilizer guns. Another poor animal dead due to humans locking it up.