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While animals often find themselves in all sorts of sticky situations, zoo animals have a tendency to push the limits of mischief in ways you wouldn't expect from your average pet. Escapes from exhibits happen more often than you'd think, and when these creatures break free, it's anyone's guess what kind of chaos they'll stir up. Some are known to play tricks on visitors, like the curious orangutan stealing kisses from young women or the chimpanzee who tossed his waste at a VIP. Here are ten entertaining tales of zoo animals causing trouble across the globe.
10. Chimpanzee's Unexpected Adventure in Ukraine
Recently, Ukraine has been in the headlines for various reasons, but one of the most peculiar stories involved a chimpanzee on the loose in Kharkiv.
It all unfolded on a rainy Monday, September 5, 2022, when 13-year-old Chichi, a female chimp, managed to escape the zoo and roam the streets of the city. Zookeepers searched high and low for two hours, but thankfully, no one was hurt during this wild escapade. In fact, Chichi became an unexpected social media sensation, as it's not every day you see a chimpanzee casually strolling through a city.
Eventually, they spotted the mischievous chimp lounging around Freedom Square. After a lengthy period of gentle persuasion, they managed to convince her to wear a yellow waterproof jacket. Zookeeper Kozyreva, who had known Chichi since she was a young chimp, assisted her in putting on the coat and gave her a warm hug. With that, the handlers were able to escort her back home, with Chichi sitting comfortably on the seat of a bicycle.
The reason behind Chichi's escape remains a mystery, though some zoo staff speculate it could be due to boredom. The animals at Kharkiv Zoo are accustomed to showing off for visitors, but with the ongoing turbulence in the country, fewer people have been visiting the zoo, possibly leading to her desire for adventure.
9. The Flirty Orangutan's Mischievous Antics in Bangkok
A mischievous orangutan in Thailand has gained quite the reputation for getting too cozy with some of the female visitors. In one viral video, the cheeky primate is seen fondling the chest of tourist Angel Orangelor, flashing a big grin. The orangutan wraps his arms around the 27-year-old woman before planting a kiss on her cheek and even sticking his tongue out for a playful touch.
This flirty orangutan resides at Safari World in Bangkok, and this isn't his first incident of playful antics. Just weeks earlier, he had done something similar with another guest while she posed for a photo. Once again, he wrapped his arms around her, placed his hands on her chest, and planted a kiss on her cheek.
Luckily, neither of the young women seemed bothered by the orangutan's attention. “The orangutan was just trying to show me some love,” Orangelor shared with a smile. “My friends thought it was hilarious. We really had a special connection.”
8. The Chinese White Lion's Iconic Hairdo
Bangs might be a daring hairstyle. While they’re not everyone’s preference, they certainly leave an impression. Legends like Bruce Lee, Paul Weller, and Joe Exotic are known for sporting them. Now, it seems, a white lion in China has joined the ranks of bang enthusiasts.
In June 2022, photos surfaced online of A Hang, a resident at Guangzhou Zoo, proudly flaunting his striking bouffant. Some online commenters speculated it was the result of a bad haircut, but zoo staff explained that his stylish mane was actually due to the hot and humid weather. “There’s no hairdressing program at the zoo, and we wouldn’t dare cut a lion’s hair. You could say he’s ‘designed’ the look himself.”
Staff clarified that A Hang likely licked his paws and ran them through his fur to cool off. They believe that, combined with the muggy climate, this caused his mane to straighten and hang loosely. After all, even the king of the jungle has to deal with the occasional bad hair day.
7. Baby Hippo Sneaks Out to Hang with the Giraffes
At a zoo in Denmark, a baby hippopotamus has become a local celebrity by sneaking out of his enclosure to spend time with the giraffes. TikTok user Jasmin captured the little adventurer causing a stir at Copenhagen Zoo, and her video quickly went viral with millions of views.
In the footage, the young hippo confidently waddles out of his enclosure to splash around in the giraffes' pool, nibble on some wires, and even take a nap. Another video shows the curious calf swiping hay from the zebras before making his way back to the giraffes for another round of snacking. In the wilds of sub-Saharan Africa, hippos are known to travel great distances from their waterholes in search of food. But this playful baby only needs to cross over to the neighboring enclosure for a snack.
6. Police Respond to California Zoo After Monkey Dials 911
In August 2022, a small capuchin monkey accidentally called 911, leading to an unexpected police response at a zoo in California. One Saturday night, dispatchers received a strange call that was abruptly disconnected. Attempts to reconnect with the caller were unsuccessful, so the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office decided to send two deputies to investigate the situation.
The call was traced back to Zoo to You, located near Paso Robles. However, when the officers arrived, the staff was unaware of any 911 call. For a brief time, both the zookeepers and police officers were left puzzled. Eventually, it was revealed that Route, a capuchin monkey, had stolen a cellphone from a zoo golf cart and accidentally dialed emergency services.
5. Panda Makes a Great Escape at Beijing Zoo
Now, let’s head back to China for our next story, this time at the Beijing Zoo, where a six-year-old panda named Meng Lan caused quite the scene by hopping out of his enclosure in front of surprised visitors. Meng Lan scaled one of the six-foot walls of his pen, making his way down into the area between the exhibit and the curious crowd. Videos of his escape show him poking his head out, intrigued by the onlookers.
Zookeepers used food as a lure to coax Meng Lan back into his pen. Shortly after the incident, they announced plans to reinforce the security of his enclosure to prevent any future escapes by the adventurous panda.
4. Brainy Octopus Floods California Aquarium
In 2009, the staff at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium were in for a real surprise when one of their exhibits caused a flood. A two-spotted octopus cleverly dismantled a valve at the top of her tank, releasing over 200 gallons (757 liters) of water into the surrounding space. Rather than using the chaos to make an escape, the mischievous creature stayed in her tank as the watery chaos spread around her, likely enjoying the pandemonium she had caused.
Octopuses are known for their intelligence, but they’re also infamous for their practical jokes. Unfortunately for aquarium staff, many of their antics revolve around creating as much mess as possible. These clever creatures have frustrated employees by blowing out lights, pushing shrimp down drains, and even squirting water at the workers. One notorious octopus in New Zealand had to be released back into the wild after making numerous escape attempts, including hiding in a drain for five days.
Experts believe that the high intelligence of octopuses could be a result of their constant battle for survival beneath the ocean’s surface. In the dangerous environment of a coral reef, even one wrong move could lead to disaster. However, the true reasons behind their intelligence remain a mystery. “Octopuses combine intelligence, exceptional manipulation skills, curiosity, and strength,” said Jennifer Mather, a psychologist specializing in cephalopod behavior. “As a result, anyone who has ever kept an octopus has a collection of stories about how these creatures can go wherever they please in aquariums.”
3. The 10-Year-Old Who Snatched a Penguin
Picture walking into your bathroom and discovering a penguin casually waddling around in your tub. That’s exactly what happened to one British couple when their young son decided to ‘borrow’ a Gentoo penguin during a trip to the zoo.
The young boy was on vacation with his family in France, and on their last day, they decided to visit some animals near Calais. Unbeknownst to his parents, the ten-year-old snuck into the penguin enclosure and stuffed one into his backpack. No one realized it during the ferry ride back to England or the drive home. The little penguin was peacefully snoozing, wrapped in a beach towel.
It wasn’t until the family arrived back in Suffolk that the parents discovered their son’s escapade. They quickly contacted the RSPCA, who found a new home for the penguin at Colchester Zoo. After a thorough check-up, the vets confirmed the penguin was in good health and even gave her the nickname Pingu.
Reports say that it took a while for the parents to calm down, but eventually, they found humor in the situation. The boy explained that he just wanted to “give it a new home” and revealed his dream of becoming a zookeeper when he grows up.
2. Escaped Meerkat Rescued After Diving Off a Ship
Most of the incidents on this list involve animals causing mayhem inside zoos. But in Boris the meerkat’s case, the chaos began before he even set foot inside one.
In 2022, the mischievous carnivore made a daring leap from the Gry Maritha, a cargo ship docked in southwest Britain. Boris and his companion, Doris, were being transported to Axe Valley Zoo in Devon, England, but the pair had other plans. They broke free from their cage and darted around the deck while the crew scrambled to catch them. They managed to secure Doris, but Boris took a bold plunge, leaping 30 feet (10 meters) into the sea near Penzance.
Captain Tom Sexton immediately dove in after Boris. The escapee was soon caught and returned to his cage, which was lowered back onto the ship. After the rescue, Boris’s owner commented that the meerkat was “very cold, but he survived and seemed quite content.”
1. The Chimpanzee Who Threw His Poop at a Visiting Grandma
We all have our bad days—days when our patience wears thin and we might not be at our best. Days when we might lash out a little more than usual. And apparently, so does this chimpanzee, who decided to throw his poop at an unsuspecting retiree.
This unkempt protest came from one of the residents at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Video footage shows the chimp tossing his excrement at the observation station. While the crowd laughs and cheers, one voice calls out, “It got grandma.” The camera pans over to reveal an elderly woman on an electric scooter, with chimpanzee poop splattered across her face.
The messy incident was captured by Erin Vargo, a former employee of the zoo. Vargo explained that the poop-throwing chimp had done this before, although it had never hit anyone—until now. “He’s a habitual poop tosser,” she told CBS. “It’s just that this time, it actually landed on someone.”
