Karnataka   

Chimpanzee's day out at Mysore zoo

Staff Correspondent

MYSORE: A male chimpanzee escaped from its open-air fenced enclosure in Mysore zoo on Saturday creating panic among the visitors.

Veterinarian of Mysore zoo Nanjappa told The Hindu that 14-year-old Mason scaled the solar-fenced enclosure around noon, before jumping into the open area of the zoo. After breaking free, the agitated chimpanzee began ambling around the zoo premises, much to the horror and bewilderment of the visitors.

Many tourists, including children, ran helter-skelter in the zoo. As soon as the zoo authorities learnt about the chimpanzee's escape, the staff cordoned off the area. An elaborate operation was launched by the animal keepers and other zoo staff to lure the chimpanzee back into its enclosure.

"In a bid to pacify the agitated chimpanzee, we offered it fruits. We waited for more than 45 minutes so that the animal calmed down. Later, we tried to cajole it inside the enclosure, but in vain," Dr. Nanjappa said.

When the chimpanzee refused to budge, the authorities were forced to fire a tranquilliser at the animal. "Eventually, I had to dart the animal around 1 p.m.," Dr. Nanjappa said. Later, the animal was put back into its enclosure.Dr. Nanjappa said, "The chimpanzee is in a good condition. It has taken its food." No untoward incident took place during the incident.

According to the zoo authorities, the chimpanzee had jumped out of the 25-foot-high enclosure, built across a moat, after being provoked by a few visitors. "the visitors would have seen the animal amuse them by clapping and performing other antics during their earlier visits. It might not have been in a similar mood today. When it is teased, it gets agitated. Itmight have jumped out of the enclosure owing to provocation from the visitors," a zoo official said.

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