In Benghazi, A Baboon Breakout Amidst Human Warfare

A dozen baboons escaped Sunday from Benghazi’s zoo and roamed around the city amid deadly clashes between the army and anti-government militias that have killed more than 300 people in the past three weeks.

All but two were returned to their enclosures by Tuesday — but not before they baffled residents and posed for pictures in the practically deserted city, says the Libya Herald.

According to a local resident, a group of young boys had started to go to the city’s central zoo where there was an absence of any real security; it is widely thought that they were the ones who released the primates.

After reports of attacks on the city’s residents, some of the baboons were reportedly shot and killed, as shown by photos that have circulated on social media over the past few days.

Main photo: @libyaamazigh101

So in the middle of the battle for #Benghazi the monkeys escaped from the zoo &are now running riot across the city pic.twitter.com/XfqgPgltjn

— Bel Trew – بل ترو (@Beltrew) November 9, 2014

The absurdity in #Libya reaching new levels. Baboons & monkeys escaped zoo in #Benghazi now attacking people. pic.twitter.com/lYet7UwmKa

— Assem #Libya (@libyaamazigh101) November 9, 2014

Several monkeys escaped from #benghazi #Libya zoo , sadly some were killed . No place to run for the poor animals pic.twitter.com/ShfXetgzPv

— Aisha Mansurey (@WORLDLOVERPEACE) November 9, 2014

All rights reserved