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| London Zoo gorilla escape: Born Free wants 'urgent inquiry' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An "urgent inquiry" is needed after a male gorilla escaped from its enclosure at London Zoo, say conservationists. | An "urgent inquiry" is needed after a male gorilla escaped from its enclosure at London Zoo, say conservationists. |
| The western lowland silverback's escape did not endanger the public but it "could have ended very differently", the Born Free Foundation warned. | The western lowland silverback's escape did not endanger the public but it "could have ended very differently", the Born Free Foundation warned. |
| Despite it only getting into the secure keepers' area, the organisation said it was a "startling reminder" of the risks of keeping wild animals in captivity. | Despite it only getting into the secure keepers' area, the organisation said it was a "startling reminder" of the risks of keeping wild animals in captivity. |
| The zoo said it was investigating the "minor incident" on Thursday. | The zoo said it was investigating the "minor incident" on Thursday. |
| Armed police were called in as staff sought to recapture the 29-stone gorilla, called Kumbuka, which was eventually tranquilised and taken back into captivity. | Armed police were called in as staff sought to recapture the 29-stone gorilla, called Kumbuka, which was eventually tranquilised and taken back into captivity. |
| The Born Free Foundation - which wants to see zoos phased out - has called on the Zoos Expert Committee, the government's advisory body, to investigate the welfare of great apes in zoos across the UK. | The Born Free Foundation - which wants to see zoos phased out - has called on the Zoos Expert Committee, the government's advisory body, to investigate the welfare of great apes in zoos across the UK. |
| "While we are relieved that this incident apparently ended without injury to visitors or to the gorilla, it is yet another startling reminder of the risks associated with maintaining dangerous wild animals in captivity," said Chris Draper, the foundation's associate director for animal welfare and care. | "While we are relieved that this incident apparently ended without injury to visitors or to the gorilla, it is yet another startling reminder of the risks associated with maintaining dangerous wild animals in captivity," said Chris Draper, the foundation's associate director for animal welfare and care. |
| "We are calling for an urgent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding this escape, and into safety procedures at London Zoo." | "We are calling for an urgent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding this escape, and into safety procedures at London Zoo." |
| Visitor Brad Evans said customers had been locked inside the zoo's cafe at about 17:10 BST and told by staff a gorilla had escaped from its enclosure. | Visitor Brad Evans said customers had been locked inside the zoo's cafe at about 17:10 BST and told by staff a gorilla had escaped from its enclosure. |
| Metropolitan Police officers arrived at the zoo at 17:20 and said the animal had been recaptured shortly before 19:00. | Metropolitan Police officers arrived at the zoo at 17:20 and said the animal had been recaptured shortly before 19:00. |
| Eyewitnesses Hannah O'Donoghue-Hobbs and Charlotte Neild said the gorilla's escape was "like being in Jurassic Park ". | Eyewitnesses Hannah O'Donoghue-Hobbs and Charlotte Neild said the gorilla's escape was "like being in Jurassic Park ". |
| 'Up and grumbling' | 'Up and grumbling' |
| Jonathan Mall, who was at a conference at the zoo, said he and other visitors were forced to take refuge in a bird enclosure for up to 30 minutes, as armed officers arrived. | Jonathan Mall, who was at a conference at the zoo, said he and other visitors were forced to take refuge in a bird enclosure for up to 30 minutes, as armed officers arrived. |
| "I was kind of scared, to be honest, because we were in a really closed space where everything is green and beautiful but there could be a gorilla hiding behind every bush," the 33-year-old, from Hamburg, said. | "I was kind of scared, to be honest, because we were in a really closed space where everything is green and beautiful but there could be a gorilla hiding behind every bush," the 33-year-old, from Hamburg, said. |
| Malcolm Fitzpatrick, curator of mammals at London Zoo, told the BBC: "At 17:15 our male gorilla got out of his back dens into a secure keeper area. Our staff were able to respond quickly and Kumbuka was tranquilised and returned to his dens. | Malcolm Fitzpatrick, curator of mammals at London Zoo, told the BBC: "At 17:15 our male gorilla got out of his back dens into a secure keeper area. Our staff were able to respond quickly and Kumbuka was tranquilised and returned to his dens. |
| "We're happy to report that he's up and grumbling, and interacting with the rest of his family in his gorilla kingdom." | "We're happy to report that he's up and grumbling, and interacting with the rest of his family in his gorilla kingdom." |
| Kumbuka, who came from Paignton Zoo in Devon in 2013, is understood to be one of at least seven gorillas at the zoo's £5m Gorilla Kingdom, which was opened in 2007 by the Duke of Edinburgh. | |
| The recapture comes after Harambe, another gorilla, was shot and killed at Cincinnati Zoo in the US after a young boy fell into its enclosure. | The recapture comes after Harambe, another gorilla, was shot and killed at Cincinnati Zoo in the US after a young boy fell into its enclosure. |
| The boy was not seriously hurt and Harambe's death sparked anger on social media. | The boy was not seriously hurt and Harambe's death sparked anger on social media. |