A Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden primate care team member was taken to a hospital Friday morning after a bonobo bite left the staffer with a “partially amputated” thumb, according to zoo officials.
A spokesperson for the zoo told CityBeat the incident happened behind the scenes in the Jungle Trails habitat.
“During morning rounds, a bonobo bit a care team member’s thumb through a protective mesh barrier while the care team member was administering medication and food to the bonobo troop,” the spokesperson wrote. “The care team member, who sustained a partial amputation of the thumb, is currently receiving medical treatment and is in stable condition.”
No other staff, guests, or animals were involved or injured, the zoo said. A review of the incident is underway, but the zoo’s spokesperson said the staffer was never in a shared space with the bonobo.
“Bonobos are highly intelligent and social primates, and interactions with them involve established protocols and safety procedures,” the zoo said. “At no time were the bonobos outside their habitat and per Zoo policy, animal care staff and great apes do not occupy shared spaces.”
The Jungle Trails section of the zoo will remain closed to the public today.
This article appears in Oct 16-29, 2024.