Personally i agree with the few who are saying it was a right decision. If the monkey had attacked a person there would have been an out-roar shouting why had nobody shot it, and i believe they did try to tranquilise the monkey but due to them being remotely more clever than an elephant or horse and having the abilty of hands they were able to remove the dart before it took any affect. I believe they did what they had to do.

Kellie, Bedfordshire,

As a zookeeper this is how you choose to act? Your actions are deplorable and no animal should be under your care. Have you ever heard of tranquilizer guns? That certainly would have been the right and humane way to deal with this. If it weren't for people like you, these amazing animals would be free and not imprisoned for you to become rich off of. Shame on you!

Paula, Brewster, New York, USA

Being a retired vet for large animals, I have had the privilege to work with some of the larger animals at different zoos. This was a very unnecessary move on Dr. Cronin part. They very well could have tranq the animal and moved them to a more secured enviroment. I am ashamed to be in the same professional class as this so-called doctor. Given the circimstances and no people directly in harms way, this was not the way to capture an escaped animal. There are times that more force than tranqs have to be utilized, such as when a park is full and one is on a rampage and visitors are directly in harms way, but as this article reads, this was not the situation. Shame on the zoo and even more shame on a so-called Doctor who is suppose to have more feelings than this. I will tell you as my father, a vet, told me when I was very young in the practice, when you have no more feeling about putting an animal down....get out of practice, your finished. I abided to that to this day.

Dr. Brenda Hough, Sealy, Texas

An absolutely disgusting episode. These animals are held captive, in their interests we are told. Has the zoo so little skill it cannot retake an escaped 'convict' with a disabling shot? Perhaps a useful excuse to get rid of a disturbing presence that would not be quiet. Down with zoos, they are a blight on the world.

helen, Norwich,

Having had the honour to be inside the Chimps enclosure at Whipsnade, I would like to say that it is more secure than the most high security prison.

These animals, whilst they look cute are capable of ripping a mans head off. What would have the uproar if this animal had injured, maimed or even killed a child.

In response to those who said about using tranquiliser darts, these have to be 100% accurate, over a short range and need to stay in. For those who say Safari Parks like these should be closed down, they obviously have no idea what work they actually do. Without places like these, many more animals would be extinct and I believe that all of the chimps at Whipsnade have been born in captivity. Without these breeding programes we wouldn't have the opportunity to enjoy these wonderful animals.

What has happened is a terrible tragedy but I firmly believe this decision was taken with the best intentions. I'm sure that the keepers would have wished for a v.diff outcome.

Judy Baker, Amersham, Bucks

The comments on here are obviously of nieve people!

David Williams, Watford, UK

I live not many miles from Dunstable and we had a big power cut on Saturday morning - just a coincidence or did Dunstable have a similar problem? Did it contribute to the accident? We don't know enough facts yet to make informed comment but what I am sure of is that Whipsnade Zoo will have the biggest broken hearts of all and be the saddest. I'm also thankful that no person was confronted by an 41 year old male chimp - they are exceedingly dangerous creatures. I love Whipsnade Zoo if for no other reason than the close encounters thay have made possible with their beautiful asian elephants. I grieve for both them and Johnnie that this awful accident happened.

Sue, Wendover, Bucks, England

The policies and staff of Whipsnade Zoo need review and replacement. The actions taken reflect a sense of laziness on the part of the zoo and the Zoological Society of London. In today's world of technological advancement non-lethal methods exist. A last resort would conceiveably be tasering if tranquilizers alone were not practical for the cowering zoo staff. The fact that the chimps escaped in the first place demonstrates incompetence and the shooting only reinforces that point.

Peter H. Warkentin, Winnipeg, Canada

Why not have the enclosure build a moat instead of electric fences?, perhaps like Chester Zoo's Chimp island.

John, Cheshire, UK

shooting the male chimp was wrong. they could have used a knock out dart instead. maybe they should make a better enclosure like we have here in america. so they feel more like in their natural enviorment.

William Links, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin USA

The very fact that the chimps needed to escape in the first place shows that they shouldn't be locked up to begin with.

judy, Liverpool, england

Well the chimps weren't the killers - that dubious accolade goes to us humans. The chimps were escaping from imprisonment.

PB, Crawley, Sussex

An absolutely disgusting episode. These animals are held captive, int heir interesets we are told. Has the zoo so little skill it cannot retake an escaped 'convict' with an disabling shot? Perhaps a useful excuse to get rid of a disturbing prescnce that would not be quiet. Down with zoos, they are a blight on the world.

helen, Norwich,

Do not Steve and Dr Law think that every possible action was taken to try and prevent the shooting of the male chimp? I'm sure the decision was regretted by the zoo staff, but there was no other choice.

Rob, Stoke,

Just as Steve Dubai asked: why not just tranquilise the chimp? They tranq. elephants for gods sake!!

Shameful. Really, the female chimp surrendered, these are not animals, 3 or 4% seperates us genetically from chimps.
They knew their behaviour was wrong, evident in the female surrender.

Really sad.
Shoot the keeper who killed this poor chimp!!

luthor lionel, New York,

Very, very sad. Take an animal out of its natural habitat, imprison it, shoot it when it escapes. Human logic and pathos at its best. A vile thing indeed.

J. Morgado, Cornwall, UK

Zoos and safari parks should be closed down. Animals were not put on earth for human entertainment or use.

Angela Williams, Bexhill on Sea, UK

tranquiliser would have been the obvious thing to do?

donal, cork, ireland

If the only answer they had was to kill the animal then maybe the time has come to close them down.

Peter Mallinson, Swindon, UK

Could it not have been tranquilised?

Steve, Dubai, UAE

British answer to everything when it comes to animals. kill it. vile.

Dr Kevin Law, Dundee, UK