According to the Chinese newspaper Chengdu Daily on the 9th, an article was shared on Chinese social media (Weibo) about a family whose child was injured by a stone thrown by a chimpanzee at the Guangzhou Chimelong Safari Park on the 4th, causing controversy.

The parents of the injured child said that a chimpanzee threw a stone as they were walking past the chimpanzee enclosure with their 1-year-old daughter. The infant suffered minor abrasions on her finger.

The parents recounted the situation, saying, "There weren't many visitors at the time, and no one was provoking the chimpanzee, but it suddenly threw a stone."

A video from the scene shows a chimpanzee pulling a palm-sized stone out of the bushes and approaching the visitors. The video also contains the voices of visitors saying, "It's bringing a stone," and "We need to get away quickly."

The zoo explained, "Adult male chimpanzees have a habit of throwing things when they get angry. Every day before opening, we inspect the exhibition area to remove dangerous objects, and our staff provides safety guidance on-site."

They continued, "It's difficult to completely prevent this because chimpanzees sometimes hide stones or use branches to dig them out. We will strengthen patrols and guidance in the future to prevent similar accidents."

On Chinese social media, eyewitness accounts like "that chimpanzee has a fierce temper" are being shared, and voices pointing out the zoo's inadequate safety management are growing, with suggestions such as "they should post more visible safety warnings" and "glass walls or distance maintenance are necessary."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]