Zoo seperates cats from monkey habitat after public uproar over 'abuse'

Two cats have been separated from the monkey habitat at Kunming Zoo in southwest China's Yunnan Province after animal lovers accused the zoo of treating the cats in an unscientific and brutal manner.

According to a statement by Kunming Zoo early on Sunday, the cats were relocated from the "monkey hill" on Saturday night in the presence of representatives from the China Small Animal Protection Association, animal experts, and caring individuals.

The statement notes that both cats underwent comprehensive examinations by veterinarians, confirming their good health, absence of external injuries, and normal mobility. The association will ensure their proper placement.

"We will earnestly reflect on and address any shortcomings and gaps in our work, promptly incorporate feedback and suggestions from the public, and strive to provide animals with a natural, safe, and healthy living environment," the zoo added.

The zoo gained attention earlier this month after some visitors shared videos online, claiming that the two cats were mistreated by the monkeys.

According to the videos, the monkeys would drag and ride on them, among other behaviors, triggering online discussions.

In response to the mounting controversies, the zoo issued a statement on January 18, explaining that the cohabitation started in 2013, and the practice aimed to deal with mouse proliferation.

The zoo stated that it introduced eight cats to the hill twice, which resulted in another four after one year.

"With this attempt, the population of mice has obviously decreased, and the monkeys and the cats have coexisted harmoniously," said the zoo, adding that two cats were retained to ensure a sustaining effect.

The account failed to quell the public outrage. On Friday, the zoo promised to displace the cats at a proper time. The next day, the zoo and the China Small Animal Protection Association jointly entrapped the cats, a way the zoo claimed would minimize potential danger to them.

Discussions are still heated, with many demanding the removal of the head of Kunming Zoo.

"I feel heartbroken by thinking of this matter. Stray cats and dogs are vulnerable in front of monkeys. The coexistence becomes a matter of life and death, involving potential interspecies violence," said Li Qi, a cat owner in Beijing.

"There used to be a lot of mice and I think it's a nice attempt to deal with the issue," said Luo Si, a cat lover in Kunming. "But I think the zookeepers should have better regulated the monkeys' behavior. It's obvious that the cats didn’t like being infested by the monkeys."

Luo also pointed out that many people are overreacting to the matter since the zoo actively responded to outside voices.

Sun Quanhui, a scientist with World Animal Protection, said it's inappropriate to keep the two species together.

"The majority of animals in the zoo are wild animals. Before introducing domestic cats, relevant authorities should conduct a comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of such a practice on both the cats and the related animals. Otherwise, there may be a situation where one aspect is prioritized at the expense of another," Sun was quoted as saying by China National Radio.

"It's hard to evaluate how serious the situation is without long-term observation. The information at hand is fragmented. Obtaining sufficient surveillance data would be necessary to accurately assess whether there is any behavior resulting in harm between the two species," a researcher on wild animal protection from the Chinese Academy of Sciences told CGTN on condition of anonymity.

(If you have specific expertise and want to contribute, or if you have a topic of interest that you'd like to share with us, please email us at nature@cgtn.com.)