London Zoo gorilla escape: Kumbuka the silverback 'should not be put back on show at zoo,' primate expert says

Change: The gorilla seemed “calm and peaceful” just minutes before it was seen jumping at the window.
Rob Hogan.

A leading primate expert said the gorilla which escaped from its enclosure should not be put back on show to the public at London Zoo.

Professor Phyllis Lee said staff at ZSL London Zoo should consider moving Kumbuka to another zoo elsewhere in Europe because he is "unhappy in his environment."

Professor Lee, former president of the Primate Society of Great Britain, said the silverback gorilla’s attempted break-out signals a sense of “crisis and desperation”.

The professor, who has studied primates for more than 35 years and is based at Stirling University, said the 29-stone animal should now be moved to another zoo elsewhere in Europe.

Speaking from Kenya, where she is carrying out a research project, she told the Standard: “Animals in captivity are often challenged by the unusual circumstances."

A staff member peers through a gate at the zoo
Nigel Howard

Professor Lee said: “He would have been somewhat challenged in his environment to start with, and from the sound of his behaviour he was desperate to escape.

“They are highly intelligent and if there is a way to escape they will find it.

“Gorilla males like to move around, in the wild they move around and join other groups. They join other groups and find other females to join and mate with.

“They are a wide ranging species and don’t take to being kept in small environments.

“They are not really gentle giants, they are very powerful, very determined animals who have a strong desire to mate. If you get I their way that could mean they hurt someone.

“He was obviously clearly unhappy in his environment and wanted to escape, to find a new group and females to mate with. He would not have been happy with the other gorillas at the zoo.

“I now expect him to be transferred. It could be to Whipsnade zoo or another zoo in Europe. There is a european stud group and the zoos are in close contact.

“It’s up to London Zoo because they will understand his behaviour best, but I expect them to try and place him somewhere he might be happier.”

Police and members of the public at an entrance to the zoo
AP

Kumbuka was brought to London to help its breeding programme – and to provide a calming presence to the females of the group. He had never had a mate before coming to London.

He has two offspring – a girl named Alika and a boy called Gernot.

Witnesses who visited the zoo yesterday said Kumbuka had appeared agitated in the hours before he escaped.

John Davis, 56, who visited Gorilla Kingdom with his two-year-old son Eden, told the Standard: “I go there pretty much every day and know the gorillas well. Most of the time the big one just sits and stares but yesterday he was looking really angry.

“People were banging on the glass and taking pictures using their flashes. Then he lurched towards us and smashed against the glass. My little one was so scared he ran away in tears.”

Rob Hogan, 37, said: “It sounded like a car hitting the window.”

Visitors were only allowed to leave the zoo when the all-clear was given after Kumbuka had been caught and subdued.

Malcolm Fitzpatrick, curator of mammals, said the ape was soon back with his group and “grumbling” - a sign of satisfaction - as he was treated to a meal of baby porridge.

Staff and visitors were locked in buildings after a klaxon went off at the zoo, signalling the animal's escape
PA

He said: “An investigation is underway to ascertain how he escaped but he was contained in a secure area and he was no risk to the visitors.

“I would like to pass on my thanks to guests who co-operated very well with us and moved into buildings to allow the emergency teams to respond.”

He dismissed suggestions Kumbuka had displayed signs of aggression earlier in the day, saying: “Male gorillas like to display behaviour, he will often hit the walls and the glass but he has never tried to escape before.

“He has a great relationship with our keepers and vets, and is very popular with our customers too.

“Every animal is different, but we know Kumbuka’s behaviour and he will very much be staying here as part of our gorilla family. We expect more gorilla babies from him in the next few years.”

Kumbuka was brought to London from Paignton Zoo in 2013 as the dominant male of the troop. He fathered his first offspring, a female named Alika, with mate Mjukuu in 2014.

Last year Kumbuka’s second baby, a male called Gernot, was born. The group is completed by females Effie and Zaire.

Councillor Nickie Aiken, Westminster City Council’s cabinet member for public protection and licensing, said a thorough investigation would be carried out.

She said: “I’m concerned to hear that a wild animal was able to get through its first barrier but I’m pleased it was unable to get through the next barrier to where members of the public are.

“It is a serious incident and it must have been quite frightening for everyone who was there. We do expect there to be high levels of safety for the animals and members of the public.“

The probe is expected to be handled by the same team who carried out the investigation into 2013’s ceiling collapse during a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime at the Apollo Theatre.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “We were called to assist, but no assistance was needed.”

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