An "intelligent and inquisitive " orangutan who
short-circuited an electric fence with a stick forced the evacuation of the Adelaide Zoo.
Karta, a 27-year-old 62kg orangutan, sent the zoo into a panic shortly after 11am when a member of the public spotted her wandering from her enclosure.
Fifteen zoo staff responded immediately to the scare and returned the animal to its enclosure as a large Mother's Day crowd was moved to "safe zones".
Adelaide Zoo Curator Peter Whitehead said
Karta built a platform from shrubs and sticks before escaping along a wall and out of the enclosure. "She's always been a bit mischievous. She likes being a bit inquisitive," she said.
"Their nature is they will work on things and she just enjoys building things, unfortunately on the wrong day and in the wrong area."
Mr Whitehead said Karta became spooked by her new surrounds and was attempting to return to the enclosure when keepers arrived.
"There's no intent from this animal to get out and harm anybody," he said.
"Our first port of call is safety for the public so, hence, we evacuated the zoo, which has been a traumatic day for a lot of Mother's Day visitors."
The zoo remained in lockdown for the rest of the day as Karta was contained within a secure indoor enclosure and measures were taken to repair the fence.
Zoo staff offered refunds and took animals outside to entertain patrons waiting to be allowed back in.
Johneen Hammond had planned to visit the zoo yesterday afternoon following a Mother's day picnic in the Botanic Garden and said she was disappointed to be turned away.
"I'm sure this would have disappointed a lot of people, but you understand the zoo's position," she said.
"It (the escape) is actually very clever, in a way it's a wonder it's never happened before".
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