WARNING – DISTRESSING IMAGES: The Zlin Zoo in the Czech Republic has launched a public appeal to track down a family recorded tormenting a group of spider monkeys and feeding them food the zoo fears could be toxic
A manhunt is underway after a family was filmed taunting a monkey in a Czech zoo. Despite having been warned against interfering with the intelligent creatures, the group could be seen touching them, secretly feeding them, and even pulling the tail of one of the animals at the Zlin Zoo in the Czech Republic.
The zoo has suffered its share of similar incidents in the past, with visitors once poisoning a baby monkey by giving it human food. Zoo officials have now shared video footage of the family, hoping it will motivate the perpetrators to come forward so they can explain themselves, and what they gave to the monkeys.
In the shocking clip which lasts just 30 seconds, the family is seen trying to lure the spider monkeys down to them using food as bait. A man and woman, likely the parents, hold a piece of food out in front of the animal as a little blonde girl watches on.
The creatures tentatively move towards them at first, before the family members are seen clutching at the monkey’s fur. After one monkey snatched a morsel from the man’s hand and tried to return to safety up the tree, the woman yanked it on the tail.
In a statement, a horrified zoo spokesperson said: “This inappropriate behaviour can have fatal consequences for our animals. You touched and fed them despite signs prohibiting it.”
The public appeal to track them down has already been shared thousands of times on Facebook. It asks the community: “We would like to explain to them the consequences this behaviour can have on the animals’ health. Information about the amount of food served would also be helpful.”
Back in 2009, a similar incident in a free-roaming part of the tropical hall resulted in the death of a young lemur. The animal died after being given leftover food. While lemurs can consume some human foods without consequence, they have specific nutritional requirements and can be killed by eating certain products like chocolate.
At the time, the zoo shuttered one of the enclosures and released a statement. It read: “Constant violations of the feeding ban by visitors led to aggressive behaviour among the lemurs.”
Thankfully, the spider monkeys have not yet shown any worrying symptoms. Keepers are watching for any further deterioration which could come as the food moves through the creature’s digestive tract.
In the UK last month, the Money Expert service was forced to apologise after one of its workers was caught carrying a cat by the scruff of its neck. He was seen in the footage lifting the white feline onto a wheelie bin, before picking it up and carrying it away again. The video shows he and another employee, both wearing EE-branded jackets, then leave the frontage of the property in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, having seemingly had no answer at the door.
But Money Expert confirmed to reporters both employees have been suspended indefinitely. It said the company “does not tolerate the mistreatment of animals in any way” and would be reaching out to the owner directly to “check on the cat’s wellbeing”.