The Lucknow Zoo, in the city of Uttar Pradesh, in India is planning to separate Jayson and Nikita, two chimpanzees who for the past two decades have been the closest of friends, enduring many long years in captivity by finding peace and comfort in one another's company. Since the chimpanzees were born and sent to be on display at a the zoo,they've never been apart— living together as one of the only animals like themselves they have ever known. This separation is, apparently, simply because the lifelong friends have not produced an offspring.

Their plan seems to be to transfer Nakita to another Indian zoo soon in hopes that she'll mate with a male chimp there, leaving Jayson without companionship for the first time in his life.

As Director of the zoo and a Doctor of Veterinary of the zoo, I find it astonishing that they are able to do this, presumably knowing what the consequences could be.

As highly social animals, chimpanzees form deep and lasting bonds, the sudden rending of which by death — or in this case, forced separation — can be felt as nothing short of devastating. Far from being unfeeling animals, chimpanzees have demonstrated a remarkable depth of emotion, responding to the loss of loved onesmuch in the same way that humans do.

"Grieving and mourning clearly show that nonhuman animals are socially aware of what is happening in their worlds and that they feel deep emotions when family and friends die," writes evolutionary biologist, Marc Bekoff, inPsychology Today. "Clearly we're not the only animals who possess the cognitive and emotional capacities for suffering the loss of others."

Chimpanzees who have lost a companion have beenknown to suffer from symptoms of depression— and, as Bekoff notes, in at least one caseresulted in what appeared to be death by broken heart.

Kamal Sharma, from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, tells the Times he fearsthat could happen again if Jayson and Nikita are parted:

"Since chimps are intelligent and sensitive like humans, a permanent separation will give them trauma. Besides, depression can be fatal for the pair.

Animal welfare activists are hoping that the zoo will reconsider separating the bonded chimpanzees, suggesting that another male be introduced on a limited basis at the Lucknow Zoo instead. But the transfer of animals away from their companions and familiar environs ispar for the course for zoos aiming to breed their captives, even if it comes at the expense of their well-being.

I hope this isn’t you, Mr. Gupta and Dr. Shukla since there is another, more humane option. Please make another choice and not separate Nikita and Jason. You will become the heroes of hundreds of thousands of animal lovers around the world. Think of the media attention your zoo would get!