Two chimps escape through unsecured doors: Taipei Zoo

Two chimpanzees escaped from their enclosure on Thursday because staff did not properly secure two doors, Taipei Zoo said yesterday.

The chimpanzee enclosure is separated from the zoo’s public areas by a double-door access corridor, Taipei Zoo spokesman Tsao Hsien-shao (曹先紹) told a news conference.

However, a caretaker had forgotten to engage the slide bolt on the door between the corridor and the enclosure, allowing the two animals to force it open, Tsao said.

A chimpanzee named Wa Chih is pictured in an undated photograph.

Photo courtesy of Taipei Zoo

The chimpanzees forced open the access corridor’s exit door, which had been left unlocked by workers carrying out construction in the area, he said.

The zoo will review its management guidelines, improve employee training and supervision, and increase inspections, he added.

At 4:55pm on Thursday, a 44-year-old male chimp named Hsiao Chiang (小強) and an 11-year-old male named Wa Chih (娃智) escaped from their enclosure, prompting zoo management to activate an emergency response plan, Taipei Zoo said.

At about 5pm, the area around the breached enclosure was sealed off and nearby visitors were evacuated, while veterinary staff prepared to tranquilize and capture the escaped animals, it said.

Hsiao Chiang remained near the chimpanzee enclosure and visited the area for the female chimpanzees before being tranquilized with a dart at 5:28pm, the zoo said.

Wa Chih moved to the giraffe exhibition area before heading to a tree near the lion enclosure, where zoo staff administered a tranquilizer dart, but Wa Chih removed it, it said.

Zoo staff administered a second dart, the zoo said.

The second dart subdued Wa Chih at 5:40pm, it said.

The two chimpanzees were taken to the zoo’s Animal Medical Center for examination and returned to their indoor enclosures after waking at about 8pm.

Taipei Zoo Animal Section head Wu Li-hsin (吳立信) said that almost 50 staff and several barricades were deployed in the capture of the chimpanzees.

In the event of an animal escape, Tsao said that keeping a safe distance is key.

Another way visitors can help is by reporting any sightings of escaped animals to the zoo, he said.