This is how a zookeeper persuaded a runaway chimpanzee to return home to the Ukrainian zoo, but not before he became a social media star. Chichi, the runaway chimpanzee, didn’t seem to be bothered by the war torn streets of Kharkiv, but a chimpanzee in a war zone could never be safe, and through the intervention of a her zookeepers, Chichi agreed to return home – that is if she could wear the bright yellow hoodie and ride a bicycle.
According to the Guardian, the 13-year-old female chimpanzee had escaped from the Kharkiv Zoo on Monday. More than two hours later, her caretakers found her in the nearby city’s Freedom Square. Perhaps the rain encouraged Chichi to accept the yellow hoodie offered to her by her zookeeper, but the real attraction was a bicycle, and Chichi proudly sat on it while her helping humans guided and helped her to balance on the two wheeler.
Chimpanzees are highly intellectual creatures; it wasn’t difficult to her to break the fence and leave. After I heard that she left, I followed her to the square and began to talk to her.
Victoria Kozyreva, Zookeeper at Kharkiv Zoo
Victoria Kozyreva, the chimp’s keeper, has been with Chichi since the chimp was a baby, and although it took some clever negotiations, the chimp decided it was time for her to go home.
Chichi had been relocated from the Feldman Ecopark to the Kharkiv Zoo after heavy warfare in early March. The Ecopark has been permanently closed, and it is likely Chichi missed her old home. At the zoo, the clever gal was able to easily escape as compared to her old home where she had been kept behind an electric fence.
Experts think Chichi may also have been bored as she was so used to seeing visitors at the other zoo. Chimpanzees like to show off, to boast and love it when they have an audience.
We are all just glad the Chichi’s adventure ended safely, but so many animals have suffered or have been killed in the war. One can only imagine and be brought to tears at the needless suffering and deaths these beautiful animals have had to endure during this senseless war.
Check out her rescue video. It’s an adorable reason to smile:
