According to the report, the unnamed zoo worker was administering food and medicine last Friday morning when the ape bit him through a mesh barrier, resulting in a "partial amputation." The zoo worker was fortunately listed in stable condition after the unpleasant incident.
In a statement, the Cincinnati Zoo says it prioritizes the safety of its employees and animals. Bonobos, also historically called pygmy chimpanzees, are very smart and social primates. The zoo says interactions with these primates involve established protocols and safety procedures. Furthermore, the zoo says "At no time were the bonobos outside their habitat."
Although referred to as peaceful, bonobos are known to have attacked humans, who consequently suffered serious, albeit non-fatal, injuries. According to a new study, bonobos are three times more likely to commit an act of physical aggression than chimpanzees.
As with any captive wild animal, captivity can be stressful for bonobos. As a result, they can become aggressive, and aggression can be a sign of discomfort or boredom.
Bonobos, who can live up to 40 years in captivity, are found largely in the Republic of Congo. They are very closely related to chimpanzees, although they are usually a bit smaller, leaner, and darker, which is why they are called pygmy chimpanzees. Bonobos are an endangered great ape species, and according to bonobo.org, no creature on earth is more closely related to humans than these rare animals.
Cincinnati Zoo officials said they are investigating the incident to determine what prompted the animal to take a bit out of one of their workers.
The incident comes a few weeks after a baby bonobo was born at the Cincinnati attraction. On Sept. 8, 2024, an 18-year-old bonobo named Gilda gave birth at the zoo, Fox19 reported then, noting that two other bonobos had recently been added to the habitat. However, it is not immediately clear if any of those new bonobos were involved in last Friday’s incident.
