Story By: Kathryn Quinn, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News.

Video Credit: CEN/Andre P.

The British bonobo repeatedly beaten up by apes at a German zoo now has something to smile about after two female chimps became firm friends with him.

Shocking footage of British-born bonobo Bili being attacked by the troop of aggressive German great apes at Wuppertal Zoo in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia made headlines around the world.

The attacks and mobbing became so bad that a petition with almost 300,000 signatures demanding that a bullied British ape be allowed to return to the UK after repeated violent attacks by his new German bonobo ape family was presented to the too.

According to animal welfare organisations, Bili had been severely traumatised since being sent to Wuppertal Zoo in autumn last year. He was seen with injuries such as a bitten off ear after the other chips attacked him.

But it now seems Bili is settling in and has finally found some friends. Zoo experts now say he is happy and integrated into his new enclosure and has new friends.

Monkey Curator in Wuppertal Dr Severun Dressen, 31, said: “We are really pleased to see how Bili is developing. He is becoming much more confidant.”

To help Bili integrate a new group structure was introduced at the zoo, splitting the animals into two groups.

Dressen said: “We now have two separate groups and can now focus more individually on Bili’s needs.”

The main problem was thought to be a female bonobo called Eja, 29 and she did not like Bili.

“In the bonobos world, woman are the bosses. Eja has two sons Azibo and Ayubu, 8, and they together with their mother’s support made Bili’s life hell from the start.”

Dressen said: §Bonobo mothers protect their sons even as adults and Bili has no mother, that makes it very difficult for him. In Frankfurt he was brought up by hand.

Bili has now been separated from Eja in another group. Now and again the two sons can spend time with Bili and they now leave him in peace.

But the real reason for their happiness seems to be two females Muhdeblu, 18, and Kichele, 30.

Dressen said: “Bili mates with both of them. Sex seems to be really important to Bili. They seem to get on well and Bili is accepted.”

It is not the first time Bili has been seen with his friends.

Bili, 10, was pictured clearly integrating with German ape Mahdeblu, who is eight years his senior, as the two had sex earlier this year.

While it seemed that Bili just could not integrate into his new German troop, the situation is now looking vastly different as besides having sex with Mahdeblu, the British ape is now also close to her five-year-old daughter Akeena, who he was seen hugging tightly.

Bili even has some male camaraderie as the troop’s grandfather Mato, 55, has also accepted Bili and has reportedly been seen playing with him in the bonobo enclosure.

A zoo spokesman said: “In the meantime, Bili looks much more relaxed overall. We could no longer observe any aggression against him lately.”

The German zookeepers, who even received death threats for their refusal to move Bili, had always said that the frequent attacks on Bili were natural and they emphasised he could still integrate perfectly in the troop if given time.

Wuppertal Zoo director Dr Arne Lawrenz said that people have a romanticised image of nature which makes them react angrily when confronted with violent episodes.

Dr Lawrenz said: “This is why there must be zoos, where we can show what nature really looks like.

“That is our mission and that’s why we, as zoos, might be at a crossroads here. For example, in the US there is a tendency to not exhibit bonobos because they are politically incorrect in terms of their sexual behaviour and aggression.

“I believe that zoos need to show people that nature is not all about peace, love and harmony, and that it’s also about rivalry and that the animals are subject to different laws to humans.”

Bili’s difficult life began when his mother Maringa did not really care for him after he was born in October 2008 in Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire, and as a result of not protecting him when he was growing up, he was flown to Frankfurt in January 2009.

Bili was adopted by loving female chimps in Frankfurt who have experience dealing with unwanted youngsters.

However, despite being happy and well integrated he was sent to Wuppertal Zoo on the recommendation of the Specialist Group of the European Zoological Community and the European Conservation Breeding Programme.

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