Hamilton Zoo chimp 'escapes'

Chlidonias

Chlidonias

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Chimp sparks AOS callout - oddstuff | Stuff.co.nz
Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) members were called out in Hamilton today after a chimpanzee escaped from a zoo.

Luka, Hamilton Zoo's youngest male chimp, escaped into the service area, not accessible to the public, by opening the spring-latch on the door about 10.40am.

Zookeeper Catherine Nichols saw Luka in the service area and activated the zoo's emergency procedure to deal with a "dangerous" animal outside of its enclosure.

This included calling in the AOS and the onsite firearms handler.

The public and about 30 Genesis Energy staff working in the chimpanzee's outside enclosure were cleared from the area, access ways were blocked and the zoo veterinarian summoned.

Zoo director Stephen Standley said Mrs Nichols and other zoo staff safely reopened the door between the service area and enclosure and enticed Luka back into the enclosure about midday.

Luka did not leave the service area and at no time was there any risk to the public, he said.

"While Luka was contained in the service area during the incident, it was critical to apply full security measures."

The double lock had not been secured on the door and the chimp's curious nature led it to manipulate the spring lock.

"We will now be reviewing the incident to identify important learnings and how security of the enclosure can be further enhanced," he said.

Occurrences like this were extremely rare but were why emergency procedures were in place, Mr Standley said.
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No monkey business at zoo - oddstuff | Stuff.co.nz
A chimpanzee may have escaped from a Hamilton zoo yesterday but the primate break out did not actually see the Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) swing into action, say police.

Luka, Hamilton Zoo's youngest male chimp, escaped into a service area, not accessible to the public, by opening the spring-latch on the door yesterday morning.

The zoo's emergency procedures to deal with a "dangerous" animal outside of its enclosure include notifying police.

The AOS was alerted but the first policeman arriving at the zoo decided the squad was not needed, Waikato police said today.

Zoo staff were able to entice Luka back into the enclosure and did not leave the service area.

The zoo was reviewing the incident to improve security.
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The double lock had not been secured on the door and the chimp's curious nature led it to manipulate the spring lock.
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most chimps are smarter than a few people i have known;)
 
is that the same Charlie who went to Willowbank in Christchurch?
 
sorry childonias wasn't in the country when they were rehomed
it is hard working for someone and disagreeing with their standard of care but staying for the animals
 
Steve in another thread said that Charlie (the Willowbank one) was imported to NZ from England by circus guy Al Horobin (in the 1960s?), then went to Whirling Brothers Circus, and then to Willowbank (in 1985 I think). In 2009 he went to Mogo Zoo with daughter Sam.

I imagine there were several chimps called Charlie in NZ circuses though...
 
Chlidonias said:
Steve in another thread said that Charlie (the Willowbank one) was imported to NZ from England by circus guy Al Horobin (in the 1960s?), then went to Whirling Brothers Circus, and then to Willowbank (in 1985 I think). In 2009 he went to Mogo Zoo with daughter Sam.
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When I went to Willowbank(1990-ish) I saw Charlie and his (then) family of female and two offspring. I seem to remember a notice on the cage said the original pair came from Dunedin I believe, so maybe that was where the circus guy was based?

I'm glad he and his daughter have now joined(?) other chimps.
 
I think just the female (Coco I believe her name was) came from Dunedin but I'm not sure.

Unfortunately Charlie is now dead. I assume Sam is still mixed with Mogo's other two chimps though.
 
Gee, the service area is close to freedom - gerenally only one or two doors away...
 
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