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  • From: Josh Greenman <joshg1973 AT yahoo.com>
  • To: monkeywire AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [monkeywire] Eight KC Zoo escapees find their taste of freedom unappetizing
  • Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 12:41:34 -0400

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/8544191.htm?1c

Posted on Thu, Apr. 29, 2004

Eight KC Zoo escapees find their taste of freedom unappetizing

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By MATT CAMPBELL The Kansas City Star

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Eight chimpanzees at the Kansas City Zoo escaped Wednesday afternoon when a tree fell against the perimeter of their enclosure.

All the chimps returned to their holding area on their own within an hour of the 4:30 p.m. incident, zoo director Randy Wisthoff said.

No zoo visitors came into contact with the animals, which escaped into a wooded area behind the chimp enclosure. The animals were not in the zoo's public area, but 25-30 persons were restricted — some locked into restrooms or the crocodile building — for their safety. Others were detained at the gorilla exhibit, Wisthoff said.

Zoo staff responded with tranquilizing equipment but did not need to use it. The animals apparently were disoriented outside their exhibit and returned voluntarily, Wisthoff said.

“Everybody did what they're supposed to do,” Wisthoff said of the zoo's response. “They acted calmly and professionally.”

As a precaution, zoo officials notified the Swope Memorial Golf Course up the hill from the exhibit, but the chimps did not venture there.

“We imagine people would have let them play through,” Wisthoff said.

Officials were mindful of recent events in Dallas and Boston.

In March, a gorilla escaped from an enclosure at the Dallas zoo and mauled three persons before being shot to death.

In September, a gorilla at the Boston zoo escaped and injured a toddler and an 18-year-old woman before being recaptured.

Among the escapees Wednesday was the 13-member group's patriarch, Jimmie. He is in poor health and voluntarily re-entered the holding area through a gate. The others climbed back into the exhibit using the fallen tree.

The escape occurred during the monthly board meeting of Friends of the Zoo. The group had intended to visit the baby rhinoceros, but that visit was postponed.

An orangutan at the Kansas City Zoo escaped in 1998 and was captured after being tranquilized.


  • [monkeywire] Eight KC Zoo escapees find their taste of freedom unappetizing, Josh Greenman, 04/30/2004

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