A renegade gibbon stole the show at Wellington Zoo yesterday, escaping from his enclosure while staff dealt with a cheetah operation and a baby baboon.
About 12.30pm, zookeepers declared a "code green" when Vilson, 22, escaped Gibbon Island and took a jaunt through trees near the zoo entrance before being caught by staff, some of whom were armed with tranquilliser darts.
General operations manager Mauritz Basson said he had just about lost patience with the ape – it was Vilson's second escape in two weeks.
"The fact he's out again is frustrating, because it means he's far more intelligent than all of us ... Our job is to contain him and obviously at this stage we're not doing this."
Vilson will be off display and in detention until staff can ensure his security.
Charlie the cheetah was on the vet's table at the Nest hospital for a gastroscopy yesterday – today it is his brother Delta's turn – to search for clues about why the cats have been feeling sick.
The gastroscopy gave no visual clues, so biopsy and cell samples will be tested. Between gibbons on the run and cheetahs on the operating table, it has been an exciting first week for the zoo's latest newcomer, a Hamadryas baboon born last Thursday.
