Monkey Escapes Zoo, Dies After Capture
Outrage Grows as Korean Eollukmal Incident Recalled
An olive baboon, known to have escaped from a zoo in Taiwan, was captured after wandering the city for two weeks. However, after its capture, the baboon met a suspicious death, sparking waves of anger beyond sadness among citizens.
According to the British BBC on the 28th (local time), the olive baboon first spotted on the 10th of this month in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, was captured by local authorities with a tranquilizer dart on the 27th, about two weeks later. The baboon died shortly thereafter.
The Taoyuan City Agriculture Bureau, which led the capture operation, stated that multiple gunshot wounds were found on the baboon's body. Citizens are criticizing the authorities for their sloppy and opaque response, which they say led to the baboon's death.
According to local media, the baboon was already seriously injured when it was caught in a net set by Agriculture Bureau staff on the day of capture.
In particular, a hunter who participated in the search testified to local media that he had fired a shotgun at the baboon under the authorities' instructions.
However, it is not yet confirmed whether the staff held guns at the time of the baboon's capture.
Local Police Launch Investigation as Controversy Grows
Regarding the baboon's death, an Agriculture Bureau official sparked controversy by taking photos of the injured baboon and saying, "I hope my daughter can tell her classmates, 'My dad caught the baboon.'"
As the controversy escalated into public outrage, local police began investigating the circumstances surrounding the baboon's death.
Moreover, the tragic fate of the baboon has been compared to the capture process of a zebra that escaped from the Children's Grand Park Zoo in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea, on the 23rd, leading to criticism of the administrative authorities' inadequate response.
Especially, Taiwan's opposition parties have labeled the baboon's death as a "tragedy caused by administrative failure" and are raising their voices.
Simon Chang, Mayor of Taoyuan City, recently stated on Facebook, "Some of my colleagues did not handle the situation cautiously and professionally," adding, "They failed to uphold the respect for animal welfare expected of the agricultural authorities."
This baboon escape incident has also led to criticism of loopholes in Taiwan's zoo regulations. BBC pointed out that in Taiwan, zoos are treated as 'social education institutions' and are managed through educational authorities rather than animal experts.
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