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Chimps get brief taste of freedom Published: July 28, 2010
By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com Freedom was brief for two chimpanzees that managed to escape from a private facility off Beatties Mill Road in Mechanicsville last Wednesday. According to Kevin M. Kilgore, chief of Hanover County Animal Control, one of the apes was “almost immediately captured,” while the other was captured at first light Thursday morning. The one rounded up soon after the escape was located on the property. Kilgore said the other chimp was found nearby. “When it got dark, it bedded down and ended up on Little Florida Road, where it was captured. They’re not nocturnal animals; they will nest at night.” He also said there was no danger at the Little Florida Road location where the second chimpanzee was caught. “The animals are in good shape and they’re well taken care of,” Kilgore added. Operations at the farm were back to normal on Thursday. “No one was hurt,” Kilgore said,” and the chimpanzees are in good shape.” Referring to Windy Oaks Animal Farm, Kilgore said, “They have a lot of really interesting and neat animals.” He said the site at the farm “is a model facility. It’s very safe and secure. I would consider them probably one of the more secure and humane facilities for great apes in this area.” The apes fled while some maintenance was being done on a cage. Animal Control was contacted about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 21. “Nobody was ever in any real danger,” Kilgore said the next day. Officers with the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the scene. |
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Windy Oaks neighbor of Mechanicsville, VA | Aug. 6, 2010, 10:08 PM
This was unsafe and potentially hazardous to both the chimps and the neighbors. Chimps are extremely strong and can be aggressive and dangerous. They do not belong in a roadside zoo. By the way, the article said that neighbors were notified of the escaped chimps. I live off Beatties Mill Road, in close proximity to this farm, and was not notified. I found out via the local news. Misty of Washington, DC | Jul. 28, 2010, 05:27 PM
“He said the site at the farm ‘is a model facility. It’s very safe and secure.’” It’s obviously not, if animals can escape. ShrfLobo of Mechanicsville | Jul. 28, 2010, 02:21 PM
Can they really say nobody was in “ever in any real danger?” They didn’t know where the chimp was all night, correct? According to the map, they found the chimp over a mile from the farm. Seeing some of the aftermath of the chimp attacks on humans (ripping faces apart and dismembering etc.) in the recent years we know for a fact the can be extremely unpredictable and aggressive. Seeing someone after a chimp attack is a pretty grotesque reminder of their raw strength. Kind of disappointed to hear the people protecting the county are labeling this as non-threatening. Bang up job rounding the chimp up—terrible job relaying an accurate message to citizens. Why not make a statement explaining the threat and discussing how to protect yourself during an attack from any type of dangerous animal. Fortunately the chimp didn’t hurt anyone and nothing bad happened. But instead of waiting for something terrible to occur, why not inform citizens they way they should be informed. I just hope the County will recognize the need to address this and manage their public relations a little better in the future—for the sake of the citizens and community they’re asked to serve. Page 1 of 1 pages
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