London Gorilla Recaptured

London Zoo gorilla Kumbuka has been recaptured within two hours after escaping from his enclosure.

19:54 16 October 2016

A male gorilla at London Zoo has been recaptured within two hours after it escaped from its enclosure. Kumbuka, a lowland silverback, did not pose any danger to the visitors, a spokesman for the zoo has confirmed.

 

Visitor Brad Evans said that visitors were locked inside the zoo’s café after the gorilla escaped from its enclosure. Police arrived at the zoo at 17:20 and the animal was recaptured shortly after 19:00.

 

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."

 

"At no time were any of our visitors in danger, the gorilla did not get out of his safe space. There were only about 100 visitors in the zoo".

 

He also explained that the visitors were told to shelter in zoo building because the staff had “thought it was the best process.”