Among other things, they have violated the law on aggravated animal cruelty that came into force last summer, she says in a documentary film on TV4.

"What has happened in Furuviksparken is as close as you can get to the description of the crime for this new crime: exposing animals to undue suffering," Annika Norée told TV4.

In addition, there was no exemption to shoot the animals to death, Norée said.

" You must not kill chimpanzees with hunting weapons, they must be killed with anesthetics by a veterinarian.

Shooters can be brought to justice

According to Annika Norée, the shooters may be personally brought to justice, which Furuvik Park's CEO Sandra Wilke is also aware of.

"The shooter always has a responsibility to get a well-placed shot and that you can do that," Wilke says.

However, she would not comment on whether anyone may have broken the law, citing that a police investigation is still ongoing.

Escaped through open door

It was on December 14 that the police were alerted that five chimpanzees had escaped from their enclosures in the monkey house on Furuviksparken just outside Gävle. Four of them were shot dead and one was injured. An open door allowed the monkeys to escape, according to the zoo's own account of the incident.

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Five chimpanzees escaped from Furuvik Park in December. Four of them: Torsten, Linda, Santino and Manda were shot dead. Photo: Christine Olsson/TT