Chimp Bites Off Zoo Director's Finger

The director of the Berlin Zoo had his finger bitten off by a chimpanzee Monday, Reuters reports .

Bernhard Blaszkiewitz, 51, was feeding walnuts to a 28-year-old chimp named Pedro as he showed a visitor around the zoo when Pedro grabbed his hand and bit off his right index finger.

"Pedro is the boss of the group so he has to demonstrate a certain dominance in it to prove himself," zoo spokesman Andre Schuele told Reuters. "Under normal circumstances, a chimp would never have the chance to reach a keeper or our director."

Doctors sewed Blaszkiewitz's finger back on, but they weren't sure if the operation would be successful.

The Berlin Zoo was made famous by polar bear cub Knut , and in April, a woman had to be rescued from the polar bear exhibit after jumping into the enclosure during feeding time and getting attacked by the bears.