Zoo's attempted reunion between baby chimp and mum ends in aggression
Baby Cassie has been cared for by zookeepers since her mother dropped her hours after birth. But an attempt to reunite the pair hasn't gone as planned.
Rockhampton Zoo staff are persisting with bottle-feeding baby chimpanzee Cassie after a failed reunion attempt with her mother Sile. The infant was born at the zoo in June, but Sile dropped her, breaking Cassie's leg. Zoo curator Blair Chapman stated that keepers had been facilitating interactions between Cassie and the chimp troop through screens.
However, when the team attempted a first introduction, Sile exhibited aggression towards Cassie, leading to the cessation of the reunion. Another adult female, Mary, who had previously given birth to stillborn twins, was also introduced to Cassie, but she too showed aggression, resulting in minor injuries for the baby chimp, including bruising and bite wounds.
Despite the challenges, keepers continue to hand-rear Cassie, striving to replicate chimpanzee behavior as closely as possible. The zoo is in discussions with primate experts worldwide to determine the next steps, as the situation remains unpredictable due to chimpanzees' unpredictable nature and the potential for aggression.
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