Crossword Genius

Blame safari company initially over simian attack (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scapegoat

'blame' is the definition.

'safari company initially over simian attack' is the wordplay.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
'over' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'simian' becomes 'ape' (simian can mean a monkey or ape).
'attack' becomes 'goat' (go at).
The first letters of 'safari company' is 'sc'.
'sc'+'ape'+'goat'='SCAPEGOAT'

(Other definitions for scapegoat that I've seen before include "Can carrier" , "Someone to blame" , "One given the blame" , "Person blamed for the wrongdoings or mistakes of others" , "One who bears the blame for others" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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