Escaped chimpanzee returns to zoo on bicycle in Ukraine. Watch video

A chimpanzee that ran away from the Kharkiv Zoo in war-torn country of Ukraine on Monday was convinced to come back by a zoo staffer who rode a bicycle carrying her. The Kharkiv zoo staff had difficulty convincing Chichi to come back with them after the locals and the zoo staff had seen her wandering about the neighbourhood and a park.

She rushed to a keeper, who put a yellow jacket on her, but as it started to rain, she fled. In the video, Chichi and the zookeeper hug before the chimpanzee sits on the bicycle.

A frontline city under constant Russian shelling experienced a rare moment of happiness after seeing footage of the occurrence.




Chichi returned to the zoo safely, according to Oleksiy Hryhoriev, the zoo's director, who confirmed this to Suspilne, a public channel in Ukraine. Earlier in the conflict, Chichi had been removed from the Feldman Ecopark, a frontline outdoor zoo in the Kharkiv region.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current situation in war-struck Ukraine like?
Structures in the northern and eastern areas of Kharkiv city have been bombed, resulting in blackened buildings.

Several civilians have lost their lives.

The continuous shelling also resulted in hurting hundreds of civilians.

The primary administrative buildings of the city were demolished in March. After this period, the city centre, where the zoo is located, has been attacked less frequently. However, at least four civilians died when a rocket struck the centre last week.



How has the war in Ukraine impacted the Kharkiv zoo?
According to Oleksandr Feldman, the zoo's owner and a businessman from Kharkiv, more than 100 animals perished before the zoo staff could carry out rescue operations and evacuate them.

Feldman stated that six volunteers who had offered to assist in the animal evacuation had died.

It is evident that although Chichi, the chimpanzee, has returned to the Kharkiv zoo, she is not completely safe even now.