- Ukrainian zookeeper named Sergey tried to kiss female ape through a partition
- Male ape, named Romeo, flew off the handle and started attacking his partner
- Sergey stepped in to break them up and Romeo snapped and started attacking
- As well as biting chunks out of the zookeeper, the ape also gave him a black eye
A jealous chimp called Romeo flew into a rage and attacked a zookeeper because he thought the man was flirting with his partner called Juliet.
Romeo is reported to have gone ape when Juliet tried to kiss zookeeper Sergey through a glass partitioning in their cage at the Feldman Eco Park zoo in the village of Lisne, north-east Ukraine.
Green-eyed Romeo began beating Juliet with his hands and when Sergey stepped in to try and break them up, the fuming chimp turned on him, biting off his fingers and part of his ear.
Romeo the monkey bares his rotting teeth from behind bars to those who have come to see him
Sergey the Ukrainian zookeeper shows his black eye after being treated in hospital for his injuries
The zookeeper lost the fingers on his left hand after the altercation with the ape called Romeo
Romeo started beating up his partner Juliet (pictured with her baby) when Sergey stepped in
He also gave the horrified zookeeper a black eye.
After managing to escape, battered Sergey was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery for his injuries.
Hospital spokesman Andriy Kozachenko told local media: ‘The man’s right ear and fingers on his left hand had been chewed and some parts of his ear and fingers are missing as they were bitten off.
‘We did our best to save what was left.’
Zoo spokeswoman Valeria Ivashenko said: ‘Chimpanzees are very dangerous animals with strong jaws that can easily tear off flesh.
‘He should not have entered the cage.
‘But he has been looking after the pair of chimpanzees for six years and had feelings for them.’
Sergey said he had a close relationship with both chimps and nothing like this had ever happened before.
He said: ‘When Juliet kissed me through glass, Romeo became very angry.
‘I think he attacked me out of jealousy.’
The jealous chimp shows his teeth after attacking the zookeeper inside his pen in the Ukraine
Romeo appears to be laughing at the cameras after the incident which maimed his keeper
A few months ago Romeo and Juliet had their first baby.
The zookeeper added that he knew he shouldn’t have entered the cage but broke the rules on purpose as he didn’t want Juliet to be injured.
He said is now looking forward to going back to work.