Brit chimp brutally bullied by other primates in German zoo finally makes pals – Mirror Online

Bili the British bonobo champanzee has had a brutal start to life.

First, he was rejected by his mum and then heartbreaking footage emerged of him being beaten up in his new home at Wuppertal Zoo.

People were so horrified by the attacks, almost 300,000 signed a petition calling for him to be returned to the UK.

Several animal welfare groups said Bili had been left badly traumatised by his ordeal after being sent to the zoo in April last year.

The young chimp even had his ear bitten off in the repeated attacks.

Zookeepers, who received death threats after footage of the abuse emerged, were adamant the attacks were perfectly natural.

Now Bili has bounced back and made some new friends - and even bagged himself two girlfriends.

Monkey curator at Wuppertal, Dr Severun Dressen, 31, said: "We are really pleased to see how Bili is developing.

"He is becoming much more confident."

Staff at the zoo were determined that Bili would fit into his new home and split the animals into two groups.

Dr Dressen explained: "We now have two separate groups and can now focus more individually on Bili's needs.

"The main problem was thought to be a female bonobo called Eja, 29, who did not like Bili.

"In the bonobos world, woman are the bosses. Eja has two sons Azibo and Ayubu, eight, and they together with their mother's support made Bili's life hell from the start."

Bonobo mothers protect their sons even as adults.

But because Bili was rejected by his and moved to Germany to be raised by hand, it made life very difficult for him.

Bili has now been separated from Eja, and her two sons now spend some time with the Brit chimp with no issues.

And Bili has also formed a close bond with two females Mahdeblu, 18, and Kichele, 30, who are BOTH his girlfriends.

Dr Dressen said: "Bili mates with both of them. Sex seems to be really important to Bili. They seem to get on well and Bili is accepted."

Bili is also close to Mahdeblu's daughter, five-year-old Akeena, and is often seen hugging her

Bili even has some male camaraderie as the troop's grandfather Mato, 55, has also accepted him and plays with him in the enclosure.

A zoo spokesman said: "Bili looks much more relaxed overall. We could no longer observe any aggression against him lately."

Wuppertal Zoo director Dr Arne Lawrenz said people have a romanticised image of nature.

Dr Lawrenz added: "This is why there must be zoos, where we can show what nature really looks like.

"That is our mission and that's why we, as zoos, might be at a crossroads here.

"For example, in the US there is a tendency to not exhibit bonobos because they are politically incorrect in terms of their sexual behaviour and aggression.

"I believe that zoos need to show people that nature is not all about peace, love and harmony, and that it's also about rivalry and that the animals are subject to different laws to humans."

Bili's mum, Maringa, failed to care for him when he was born in Twycross Zoo, Leicestershire, in October, 2008.

Because she didn't protect him when he was growing up, Bili was moved to Frankfurt, where he was adopted by two female chimps

Bili was adopted by loving female chimps in Frankfurt who have experience dealing with unwanted youngsters.

He was then sent to Wuppertal Zoo on the recommendation of the Specialist Group of the European Zoological Community and the European Conservation Breeding Programme.

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Brit chimp brutally bullied by other primates in German zoo finally makes pals - Mirror Online