2 chimpanzees captured after escaping enclosure at Taipei Zoo

Taipei, Sept. 17 (CNA) Two chimpanzees that escaped from their enclosure Thursday afternoon at Taipei Zoo were captured and safely returned by veterinary staff within the hour, the zoo said.

In a statement to reporters, the zoo said a 44-year-old male named "Hsiao Chiang" (小強) and an 11-year-old male named Wa Chih (娃智) escaped from their enclosure at 4:55 p.m., prompting zoo management to activate an emergency response plan.

At around 5 p.m., the area around the breached enclosure was sealed off and nearby visitors were evacuated, while veterinary staff prepared to tranquilize and capture the escaped chimps, the zoo said.

Hsiao Chiang was spotted near a small giraffe enclosure and successfully subdued with a tranquilizer dart at 5:23 p.m. Wa Chih, after remaining near the chimpanzee enclosure, was tranquilized at 5:40 p.m. Both were safely returned to their enclosure, the zoo said.

The zoo will hold a news conference Friday to provide additional details on the incident.