Furuviksparken to Relocate Remaining Chimpanzees to Edinburgh Zoo Following 2022 Escape Tragedy

Furuviksparken has announced the permanent closure of its chimpanzee enclosure, with plans to relocate the last three remaining chimpanzees to Edinburgh Zoo by 2026. This decision follows a tragic incident in December 2022, where five chimpanzees escaped their enclosure, resulting in the shooting of four and raising serious animal welfare concerns.

The chimpanzees, once seven in number, now live as a small group that zoo officials consider unsustainable. The decision to relocate was made jointly with the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), aiming to ensure the chimpanzees’ welfare through integration into a larger social group in a better-equipped environment.

Sandra Wilke, CEO of Furuviksparken, expressed mixed feelings about ending the zoo's chimpanzee holding but felt relieved about the chimps’ future care. Edinburgh Zoo, known for its extensive experience with chimpanzees, will provide a suitable environment. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's Darren McGarry highlighted that the chimps’ integration will be gradual and closely monitored.

Following the 2022 incident, which included the death of a three-year-old chimpanzee named Torsten, Furuviksparken faced criticism and a subsequent investigation into animal cruelty and legal violations, which was closed in autumn 2024. Jana Pluháčková, EAZA's chimpanzee coordinator, supports the relocation as integral to the chimpanzees’ long-term well-being.

The relocation marks a significant step towards prioritizing the chimpanzees’ natural social needs and welfare, ending Furuviksparken’s historic association with these primates as they move towards a new chapter in Scotland.