Toronto Zoo seeking expert advice after orangutan escape

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The Toronto Zoo is seeking expert advice after an orangutan managed to escape its outdoor habitat for a short period of time before it was safely returned.

Kembali, a male orangutan, was able to leave his habitat Thursday evening and climb down a tower to access the area just outside the habitat, the zoo said Saturday in an emailed statement.

“After reviewing video footage and photographs from both the Toronto Zoo and guests from August 29th, our preliminary investigation shows that Kembali was on one of the towers at the south end of the outdoor habitat when he swung in a cartwheel-like motion from the bottom rope (o-line) to the platform, around the secondary barrier (hot wire) near the top of the tower, and then grabbed a gusset (steel bracket) located under the platform. From there he was able to climb down the tower.”

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According to zoo officials, staff were able to clear visitors from the area quickly and the primate was taken back to the habitat without incident.

It has begun “consulting with international experts to determine what modifications are required for the outdoor habitat to re-open.”

The zoo said it is thanking visitors and staff for submitting videos and photos that helped officials better understand how Kembali was able to leave the habitat.

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“We are also grateful to Zoo staff and volunteers for their quick actions once they were notified of the incident,” it added.

Zoo officials are appealing to any visitors who were at the zoo on Thursday evening and may have captured video footage to contact the zoo’s health and safety supervisor Graham Birtles at [email protected].

The outdoor orangutan habitat will remain closed while zoo officials continue their investigation and review.

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