Quit monkeying around.
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A zoo in Belgium has banned a woman from visiting the chimpanzee exhibit after having an “affair” with one of the animals.
Chita, a chimpanzee, came to the Antwerp Zoo about three decades ago. For the past four years, Adie Timmermans has visited him every day, where they have developed a close bond, according to Newsweek.
“I love that animal, and he loves me. I haven’t got anything else. Why do they want to take that away,” Timmermans said. “We’re having an affair, I’ll just say.”
Timmermans explained the “affair” basically just means that she and the primate wave and blow kisses to each other through the glass. Officials at the zoo said they are concerned since this impacts Chita’s bond with the other chimpanzees.
“When Chita is constantly busy with visitors, the other monkeys ignore him and don’t consider him part of the group, even though that is important. He then sits on his own outside of visiting hours,” the zoo said.
“An animal that is too focused on people is less respected by its peers. We want Chita to be a chimpanzee as much as possible,” the spokesperson for the facility added.
Antwerp Zoo said Chita had bonded so well with humans because he was a pet before living at the zoo.
Timmermans said the zoo’s decision was not fair, saying, “other dozens of visitors are allowed to make contact. Then why not me?”
Zookeepers will now work with Chita on bettering his health.
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