Enraged Chimpanzee's Struggle With Keeper

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 14, 18 January 1937, Page 3

Enraged Chimpanzee's Struggle With Keeper

SYDNEY, Jan. 8. Michael, the Adelaide Zoo chimpanzee, viciously attacked his keeper, James Watts, at a recent feeding time, more than 50 excited spectators watching the struggle, which continued in the cage fox several minutes. Before the keeper entered the cage to feed him, the animal had become enraged at the attention of a party of Boy Scouts. It picked up dirt and flung it in their direction, and began to beat the ground wildly with a bag. Watts handed Michael a bottle of milk and entered through the grille door. The chimpanzee drank quietly and appeared to have forgotten his resentment. Ho finished the milk, but refused a tasty helping of bananas, apples and lettuce. While Watts was coaxing him to eat, he suddenly charged his keeper’s legs, hugged him fiercely and attempted to bite. The keeper fought off the enraganimal, which leaped on to a plank and stamped and raged. The keeper made another attempt to feed him, but Michael rushed him more viciously. Swift, hard blows and a hit or two with the sack wero necessary to end Michael’s onslaught. During the struggle the chimpanzee swung madly on his swing, danced, snarled and flung himself against the netting of his enclosure. The keeper was wearing thick overalls and was not seriously hurt. Watts won back Michael’s confidence, and after ten minutes of encouraging kindliness tho chimpanzee kissed him affectionately and ate slices of bananas from his hand. Watts said he had been looking after the animal for a year and this was the first time it had attacked