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OFFBE

Orang-utan shot after shocking zoo breakout

Zoo workers in Duisburg shot an orang-utan late on Monday evening after two of the apes escaped from their cage in the westerly city.

Orang-utan shot after shocking zoo breakout
File photo: DPA

“Since the animal was already climbing over the outer fence [of the zoo] it was no longer possible to tranquillize it,” a statement from city authorities read.

“Unfortunately, a person authoried to use firearms was forced to use his weapon.”

Dozens of police and firefighters had rushed to the zoo after news of the animals' escape before the all-clear was sounded at 9 pm.

Dangerous apes

Orang-utans can weigh up to 100 kilgrammes, and are considered dangerous enough that police officers were armed with submachine guns as they searched.

“At the end of the day, the protection of human life had to come first,” city spokeswoman Anja Kopka told Ruhr Nachrichten.

She added that zoo workers had been deeply affected by the orang-utan's death.

The other orang-utan who escaped was tranquillized and brought back to its cage inside the zoo. It was not immediately clear how the escape happened.

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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