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Gorilla mysteriously escapes London Zoo enclosure.
STATES CHRONICLE – London authorities and citizens were on high alert after a gorilla escaped from a zoo enclosure. According to the Born Free Foundation, the western lowland massive silverback didn’t harm anyone, but this situation might have ended badly.
The gorilla got as far as a secure area of the keepers, but this is the proof the captive wild animals go under a lot of stress in such facilities and they always look to escape.
Armed police officers had to intervene in order to tranquilize the huge animal, known as Kumbuka. After checking if Kumbuka passed out, they took it back in the enclosure.
The Born Free Foundation, an organization that stands against zoos, has requested the UK government and the Zoos Expert Committee to make a thorough investigation on every zoo across the country.
According to Chris Draper, BFF animal care and welfare associate director, although everyone is happy this minor incident ended up well, and without severe consequences, it is a powerful reminder that keeping a wild animal in captivity is very risky.
He has further added that a thorough investigation must immediately start in order to find out the major factors that led to the escape and to see whether the Zoo’s safety procedures are in accordance with the law.
Brad Evans, one of the visitors, confessed that he and other people were locked in the zoo’s café at 17:10 and told that a gorilla roamed free in the zoo after escaping its enclosure. Fortunately, officers from the Metropolitan Police arrived in 10 minutes and successfully captured the large silver back by 19:00.
Some witnesses even said they felt like in Jurassic Park until the animal was captured. According to Malcolm Fitzpatrick, London Zoo mammals’ curator, Kumbuka escaped his enclosure at 17:15 and entered into a secure keeper area, but his team and the police officers responded quickly and tranquilised the large animal without other incidents.
Kumbuka is one of the seven gorillas living at the London Zoo’s £5 million Gorilla Kingdom which was opened in 2007. Such events have previously occurred, this time in the United States, when a male gorilla, named Harambe, was shot dead at Cincinnati Zoo because a boy fell into the animal’s enclosure.
Image Source: Pamoras Safaris
