The Toronto Zoo has confirmed that an orangutan briefly left its outdoor habitat on Thursday evening before being safely returned by zoo staff without incident.
The orangutan, named Kembali, managed to access an area just outside its designated habitat. Upon discovery, zoo staff quickly evacuated guests from the surrounding area to ensure their safety. The male primate was then calmly escorted back to its enclosure.
As a precautionary measure, local police were called and remained on standby in the zoo’s parking lot, although their intervention was not required.
Zoo officials are now investigating the incident to determine how Kembali was able to leave his habitat. They are also appealing to any guests who were present near the orangutan habitat on Thursday evening to come forward with any video footage that might assist in the investigation.
As the investigation continues, the outdoor orangutan habitat will remain closed to both guests and media.
For further updates, please visit the Toronto Zoo’s official website or social media channels.
This report was initially published by The Canadian Press on August 29, 2024.