Taipei Zoo says unsecured doors enabled chimpanzees' escape

Taipei, Sept. 18 (CNA) Taipei Zoo said Friday that two chimpanzees were able to escape from their enclosure Thursday because staff did not properly secure two doors.

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

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.

The chimpanzees then forced open the access corridor's exit door, which had been left unlocked by workmen carrying out construction in the area, Tsao added.

Tsao said the zoo would review its management guidelines, strengthen employee training and supervision and increase inspections.

At 4:55 p.m. Thursday, 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, prompting zoo management to activate an emergency response plan, Taipei Zoo said.

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

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

The second dart subdued Wa Chih at 5:40 p.m. The two animals were then sent to the zoo's Animal Medical Center for examination and returned to their indoor enclosures after waking at around 8 p.m., the zoo said.

According to Wu Li-hsin (吳立信), head of Taipei Zoo's Animal Section, almost 50 people and several barricades were deployed in the chimpanzees' capture.

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, Tsao said.