A three-month-old baby is fighting for life in a hospital in Yambio, South Sudan, after being brutally attacked by a chimpanzee. The incident occurred in the morning when the baby's father, Kabako Samson, left home for work, leaving the child with the mother, Kubana Angelina. The mother had left the baby inside the house and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Neighbors reported that the chimpanzee had entered the room where the infant was lying and attacked the baby's face, inflicting severe injuries and eating the baby's intestines. When the mother returned and attempted to rescue the infant, the chimpanzee fled towards a nearby river. The injured baby was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment and remains in critical condition.
The incident has raised concerns among residents about the safety of keeping wild animals in residential areas, particularly where children and other members of the community may be exposed to danger. According to information provided by the family, wildlife authorities had previously sought to have the chimpanzee removed from the household, reportedly requesting payment in connection with taking the animal away.
However, the owner allegedly refused to hand it over, despite previous incidents where the chimpanzee had harmed people. The family further alleges that this was not the first time the chimpanzee had harmed people, raising questions about whether sufficient action had been taken to prevent further incidents.
The latest attack has renewed calls for wildlife authorities and relevant local officials to investigate the incident, establish the circumstances under which the animal was being kept, and take appropriate measures to protect residents. The incident highlights the potential dangers of keeping wild animals in densely populated residential neighborhoods without adequate safety measures.
Residents are likely to seek urgent intervention from wildlife authorities to locate the escaped chimpanzee and ensure it does not pose a further threat to the public. Authorities should also investigate the reported previous attacks and the alleged refusal to surrender the animal while ensuring that the injured child receives appropriate medical care.
As of the time of writing, no official statement from wildlife authorities or the owner of the chimpanzee had been provided to confirm the family's account or clarify the circumstances surrounding the animal's escape. The child's condition remains critical, according to the information received from the family, and the community is waiting for action to be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
Key points
- The chimpanzee was being kept in a residential house in Yambio despite previous incidents where it had harmed people.
- Wildlife authorities had previously sought to have the chimpanzee removed from the household but were allegedly refused by the owner.
- The incident has raised concerns about the safety of keeping wild animals in residential areas and the need for urgent intervention from authorities.
