Death of Baby Chimp at Zoo

* Re “Baby Chimp Stomped to Death by Fellow Members of Zoo Clan,” May 18.

Chalk up another sock in the eye to our not-so-illustrious Los Angeles Zoo and its officials.

My delight at following the antics of L.A.’s charming chimp family has sadly turned to despair in light of the recent death of baby Toshi at the hands of two young male chimpanzees. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that most male species of animals, even the common tomcat, will kill offspring if the opportunity arises. I fail to understand the judgment call made to keep the mother and baby in the compound with the other chimps, even after her timid nature and apparent inability to protect her baby was evident to the keepers / handlers. Perhaps the handlers need something more than their college degrees. How about a little common sense?

Let’s hope the mother chimps and their current (and future) babies will be better protected against another similar incident. Either that or perhaps another shake-up of the management / personnel at the zoo is in order. Obviously, the most recent one hasn’t worked.

KAREN BELL

Burbank