Strangest Animal Incidents

Orangutan Deactivates Electric Fence to Escape from Zoo

An Australian zoo was evacuated after an "ingenious" orang-utan escaped from her enclosure by short-circuiting an electric fence today. Staff at Adelaide zoo said 137lb (62kg) Karta used a stick to short-circuit the electric wires around her enclosure before piling up some more sticks to climb out. But the 27-year-old ape only ventured as far as a surrounding fence, still metres from members of the public, during her 30 minutes of freedom. The zoo's curator, Peter Whitehead, said she seemed to realize she was somewhere she was not supposed to be and returned to her enclosure.

Karta was spotted by a member of the public and, although she returned to her enclosure, the zoo was evacuated as a safety precaution. Whitehead said the orang-utan was not aggressive and had not been close to members of the public. However, vets stood by with tranquilizer guns in case of trouble.

Zookeepers believe that Karta was driven to make an incredible escape attempt by grief at the loss of her longtime mate.