Chimps Use Tree Branch to Escape Enclosure at Kansas City Zoo

Posted on April 11, 2014

Chimpanzees used a tree branch to escape up a wall at the Kansas City Zoo on Thursday afternoon. The chimps were led by a ringleader who placed the branch against the wall and climbed up to the top. The same chimp then encouraged six other chimps to escape. Zoo officials do not know whether the branch fell off the tree or if the ringleader chimp broke it off. A couple chimps got over the wall into the zookeepers area. The chimps are all back in their enclosure after being lured back with carrots, celery, lettuce and malted milk balls. The malted milk balls were used to get the most reluctant chimp to return. A Kansas City Star report describes the incident, which prompted a "Code Red" at the zoo.

Here is footage of one of the chimps on top of the wall:



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