Fire-Starting Chimp to be Destroyed

SAN DIEGO (EAP) -- A Bonobo chimp nicknamed "Sparky" is scheduled to be destroyed next week after he somehow learned how to create fire, and is seen as a danger to the other animals and the zoo itself.

Seen at right, Sparky has just set fire to some straw, as his mate and young son watch over him.

"We couldn't believe what we were seeing," said zoo workers who witnessed Sparky gathering straw into a pile and then rolling a stick back-and-forth in the palm of his hands on top of another piece of wood to create an actual fire. He's still a little afraid of fire and jumps back when the fire starts, as can be seen in the photo, but he's still determined to start fires whenever he gets the chance and feels like it.