Robert the Baboon has died at animal shelter De Zonnegloed in Vleteren (West Flanders). Robert arrived at the shelter in June with an alcohol addiction. The monkey had been used in a pub in Ghent (East Flanders) as entertainment and was given beer as a reward for performing tricks.
The animal shelter took him in along with seven other abused baboons. Each animal has its own story of abuse and illegality.
In June, De Zonnegloed welcomed eight green baboons to their wildlife park. These were monkeys that had ended up with private individuals through illegal trade. Each animal has its own story. There is even one monkey that was found in a rubbish dump in Spain. Since monkeys are group animals, it was important that a shelter could take in several monkeys at the same time.
Robert was severely abused. “He was kept in a café in Ghent as entertainment,” says animal carer Nina Vanacker. “There, he was given beer or other alcoholic beverages as a reward after performing a trick. This is how Robert developed an alcohol addiction. Fortunately, such practices are very rare, but unfortunately, they still happen.”
The baboon went blind in September. “At first, we gave him another chance, because even blind monkeys can still have a good life. But his condition deteriorated rapidly. He kept bumping his head everywhere and started walking around in circles for no reason. That's why we made the decision to euthanise him.”