London Zoo gorilla escape: Mammals chief describes escape as 'minor incident' and insists no one was in danger

Chloe Chaplain14 October 2016

Head of mammals at London zoo has dismissed the moment a huge silverback gorilla escaped from his “den” as a “minor incident”.

Kumbuka, the head male gorilla, was seen charging at the enclosure glass just seconds before “loose animal” sirens went off and the zoo went into lock-down.

Terrified visitors were left hiding out as armed police and animal specialists were deployed to hunt for the roaming animal.

Kumbuka was found to have escaped out of his section into a “non-public” part of the zoo but it is not yet known how he got out.

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

But Malcolm Fitzpatrick, curator of mammals at the zoo, said that the public was not in any danger.

Mr Fitzpatrick said the western lowland had been tranquilised before being returned to the Gorilla Kingdom, where he was "up and grumbling and interacting with the rest of his gorilla family".

He added: "It was a safe, secure keeper area, so at no time did he actually get out into the zoo."

Escaped gorilla: The zoo was on lock-down as staff tried to tranquilize the animal (NIGEL HOWARD)
Nigel Howard

The incident is now under investigation, he said.

Mr Fitzpatrick told reporters Kumbuka was in the keepers' area for more than an hour until vets were able to tranquillise him.

He said: "At 5.15pm this afternoon our male gorilla got out of his back dens into a secure keeper area.

Minor incident: Head of mammals Malcolm Fitzpatrick
NIGEL HOWARD

"Our staff were able to respond quickly and Kumbuka was tranquillised and returned to his dens, where I am happy to report he is up and grumbling and interacting with the rest of his gorilla family in Gorilla Kingdom."

Mr Fitzpatrick would not confirm if there were keepers in the area at the time and said the public gorilla viewing zone had only a "handful" of people there then.

Kumbuka the gorilla

1/5

He added: "At no time were any of our visitors in any danger.

Police and evacuated visitors stand outside London Zoo
AP

“The gorilla did not get out of the safe space, there were only about 100 visitors, it was the end of the day and I would like to thank all of those visitors for co-operating and moving in to buildings."

Mr Fitzpatrick said keepers would be staying on into the evening to check up on Kumbuka and giving him his "favourite treats".

A statement from ZSL London Zoo said the 18-year-old gorilla was contained within the exhibit's off-show area, and that an investigation would be carried out in to how he escaped.

A spokeswoman said: "The exhibit is secure and we are grateful to all of our staff and visitors for their co-operation, enabling us to resolve the situation quickly and efficiently. ZSL London Zoo will be open tomorrow."

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