Ape has escaped from his enclosure at Perth Zoo as visitors are hurriedly evacuated from some areas of the park
- Gibbon monkey has escaped from its enclosure at Perth Zoo
- Was free for 30 minutes before being recaptured
Visitors to Perth Zoo were hastily evacuated after a monkey briefly escaped from its enclosure.
It is clear that the gibbon escaped after being flung from its enclosure on Tuesday.
The monkey was free to roam for about half an hour before being recaptured by zoo staff.
A Javan gibbon has escaped from its enclosure at Perth Zoo, prompting a hasty evacuation
The zoo said the escape may have been accidental.
“One of Perth Zoo’s Javan Gibbons was overly exuberant while swinging and ended up in a tree outside its habitat,” Perth Zoo said in a statement.
“The zoo’s expert primate and veterinary teams acted quickly and safely anesthetized him and will now move him to a safe behind-the-scenes area for monitoring.
At no time were visitors in danger, but the public was escorted from the area as a precaution.
Our zookeepers are now keeping a close eye on him and the rest of the Javan Gibbons, and they seem settled and healthy.”
Photos posted online by The Bell Tower Times show part of the zoo cordoned off as staff and guests search for the elusive ape.
Perth Zoo has seen monkey flight action before.
The young orangutan had fallen or had fallen off a rope in an outdoor garden.
Visitors to Perth Zoo search the trees for the elusive escaped Javan Gibbon that swung from its enclosure
The mother then fell off a nesting platform to retrieve her infant.
The boardwalk was evacuated, but after 22 minutes of freedom, the pair climbed back to their quarters via an outside wall.