ZOO Nebraska

It is a long way from Hollywood to Royal, Nebraska.

But that is where two entertainment chimps found themselves one fateful fall day in 2005, at Zoo Nebraska.

Ripley, the chimp who spat at Kramer in Seinfeld.

For young movie viewers, Tyler was the loveable chimp sent up into orbit in the 2002 James Woods movie Race To Space. His cage mate was Ripley, best known as the chimp who spat at Kramer in a famous Seinfeld episode.

Also in the primate cage were two other chimps named Ruben and Jimmy Joe.

Problems at Zoo Nebraska

According the United Stated Department of Agriculture, the government body that oversees animal facilities, Zoo Nebraska was not a great place to be a chimp.

A December 29th 2004 USDA report on Zoo Nebraska said "A strong bleach odor was observed during the cleaning of the chimp enclosure, housing 4 chimps. Also, there is no ventilation present. Additional ventilation is needed, for the odors could affect the chimps." (read the report)

Ominously, the USDA reported a month later "Currently there is no means to restraint (sic) or capture the animals in the event of an emergency. For example, none of the employees knows how to operate the tranquilizer gun. Personnel should be trained in capture and restraint methods of the animals." (read the report)

Chimps escape their cage

On September 10th, the chimp's cage had been cleaned. But one of the staff personnel left the gate only partially latched. The four chimpanzees escaped, although Ripley later returned to the cage.

Tyler, once a film star in Race to Space, met a horrible end at Zoo Nebraska.

The apes were large. Jimmy Joe weighed an estimated 136 kg.

And the USDA's earlier warning that zoo staff did not know how to operate the tranquilizer gun proved terribly accurate.

"Xylazine was used on two chimps and may not have been the drug of choice for effective sedation or was not properly administered since it did not affect the two animals," said a USDA report written two days after the escape. "The person using the gun had not received formal training in the use of chemical immobilization." (read the report)

Chimps shot

The Nebraska State Patrol and the Antelope County Sheriff's Department arrived on the scene. Jimmy Joe, Ruben and Tyler had been loose for 45 minutes.

Ripley returned to his cage on his own and escaped the fate of his cage mates.

The windshield camera on the Nebraska State Patrol car recorded the final moments for three of the chimps. A white golf cart is seen driving towards the dark shape of the chimps. Then the crack of gunfire.

"Three chimps (Tyler, Jimmy Joe and Ruben) were killed by gunshot as a result of failed tranquilization when the animals escaped," said the USDA report on the event and in remarkable piece of understatement, concluded: "Gunshot is not an approved method of euthanasia and may cause undue pain, distress and suffering before actual death."