Adie Timmermans is heartbroken after a zoo in Antwerp, Belgium, stopped her from visiting a 38-year-old chimpanzee called Chita because their relationship was deemed unhealthy for his socialisation with the other chimps.
Ms Timmermans has been visiting Chita on a weekly basis for four years. She says they struck up a friendship at first, but it soon developed into a real “relationship”. During their visits, they would reportedly blow kisses to each other and wave through the glass.
Broken-hearted, she told Antwerp TV: “I love that animal and he loves me. I haven’t got anything else. Why do they want to take that away?
“We are having an affair, I’ll just say. Other dozens of visitors are allowed to make contact. Then why not me?”
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Chita was originally a pet and was brought to the zoo at the age of eight.
Despite 30 years in captivity, his interest in humans has remained and zoo officials are worried that Chita will never be able to re-integrate into chimp society.
