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| Goodall sanctuary chimps who mauled Texas student allowed to live | Goodall sanctuary chimps who mauled Texas student allowed to live |
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| Two adult chimpanzees that attacked an American student at a primate sanctuary in South Africa were defending their territory and will be allowed to live, the lead government investigator said on Tuesday. | Two adult chimpanzees that attacked an American student at a primate sanctuary in South Africa were defending their territory and will be allowed to live, the lead government investigator said on Tuesday. |
| Dries Pienaar, the conservationist who led the inquiry about the incident, blamed human error for the attack on Thursday. | Dries Pienaar, the conservationist who led the inquiry about the incident, blamed human error for the attack on Thursday. |
| The student, Andrew F Oberle, crossed between two safety fences at Chimpanzee Eden, part of the Jane Goodall Institute, about 180 miles from Johannesburg, to retrieve a rock the chimps habitually threw over at tourists. | The student, Andrew F Oberle, crossed between two safety fences at Chimpanzee Eden, part of the Jane Goodall Institute, about 180 miles from Johannesburg, to retrieve a rock the chimps habitually threw over at tourists. |
| On Monday night, after the attack, Oberle, 26, was in a medically induced coma, in a critical condition. On Tuesday hospital doctors declined to describe his condition, saying his family, who had arrived from the US, were asking for privacy. | On Monday night, after the attack, Oberle, 26, was in a medically induced coma, in a critical condition. On Tuesday hospital doctors declined to describe his condition, saying his family, who had arrived from the US, were asking for privacy. |
| Oberle, a graduate who is reading for a master's degree in anthropology and primatology, at the University of Texas, San Antonio, was on his second trip to study at the South African institute, which takes in orphaned and abused chimpanzees. | Oberle, a graduate who is reading for a master's degree in anthropology and primatology, at the University of Texas, San Antonio, was on his second trip to study at the South African institute, which takes in orphaned and abused chimpanzees. |
| Pienaar said that the chimps tore fingers from one of Oberle's hands. "To my astonishment, I couldn't believe it because I know those chimps personally," he said. | Pienaar said that the chimps tore fingers from one of Oberle's hands. "To my astonishment, I couldn't believe it because I know those chimps personally," he said. |
| He said he had found no negligence on the part of Chimpanzee Eden, which is in the Umhloti nature reserve and rescues chimps from the entertainment industry and the illegal pet and bushmeat trades. | He said he had found no negligence on the part of Chimpanzee Eden, which is in the Umhloti nature reserve and rescues chimps from the entertainment industry and the illegal pet and bushmeat trades. |
| "The only thing that happened is Andrew stepped over the small barrier fence and went right up to the electric fence," he said. "We all know that they are tame chimps, but he shouldn't have done that, he's a researcher, he's supposed to read the body language." | "The only thing that happened is Andrew stepped over the small barrier fence and went right up to the electric fence," he said. "We all know that they are tame chimps, but he shouldn't have done that, he's a researcher, he's supposed to read the body language." |
| Oberle was leading a group of tourists at the time. The visitors were about 10 metres (33ft) from the second fence, as required by the safety rules. After Oberle stepped over the first fence the chimps dragged him under the electric fence and mauled him around the head and arm. | Oberle was leading a group of tourists at the time. The visitors were about 10 metres (33ft) from the second fence, as required by the safety rules. After Oberle stepped over the first fence the chimps dragged him under the electric fence and mauled him around the head and arm. |
| The sanctuary manager, Eugene Cussons, said he was happy that Pienaar's investigation found that the chimps were acting in territorial defence and would not therefore be killed or punished. | The sanctuary manager, Eugene Cussons, said he was happy that Pienaar's investigation found that the chimps were acting in territorial defence and would not therefore be killed or punished. |
| He said he had had to shoot Nikki, one of the chimps, but not mortally, after he and a ranger failed to scare the animals into releasing Oberle even when they drove a car at them. Nikki, who is aged about 16, was injured in the abdomen and is being treated at Johannesburg Zoo. | He said he had had to shoot Nikki, one of the chimps, but not mortally, after he and a ranger failed to scare the animals into releasing Oberle even when they drove a car at them. Nikki, who is aged about 16, was injured in the abdomen and is being treated at Johannesburg Zoo. |
| The other chimp, Amadeus, who is in his 20s, is "on lockdown" with his family at the sanctuary. | The other chimp, Amadeus, who is in his 20s, is "on lockdown" with his family at the sanctuary. |
| Pienaar, who has worked as a conservationist for 33 years, said the shooting had been a last option under protocols that recommend that firstly shock treatment or pepper sprays should be used. | Pienaar, who has worked as a conservationist for 33 years, said the shooting had been a last option under protocols that recommend that firstly shock treatment or pepper sprays should be used. |
| "Other than that, I'm happy with things," Pienaar said. "I'm not having the chimps put down. I don't think there's reason for that." | "Other than that, I'm happy with things," Pienaar said. "I'm not having the chimps put down. I don't think there's reason for that." |
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