Buzz
A trip to the zoo is always a treat, particularly in autumn when the crisp air seems to invigorate the animals. Yet, there’s always a chance that one of the residents might attempt a bold getaway. Think it’s far-fetched? Dive into these incredible stories of animals outsmarting their enclosures.
1. Fu Manchu: The Orangutan Who Outsmarted His Keepers
While escape artists like David Blaine may leave you in awe, orangutan Fu Manchu took things to a whole new level. (If orangutans could smirk, he surely would have.) Fu Manchu first escaped from Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo in 1968, leaving his caretakers baffled. Initially, they thought someone had mistakenly left his cage door open. After coaxing him and his family back, everything seemed under control—until Fu Manchu escaped once more. And then again. After his third breakout, zookeepers grew suspicious and kept a closer watch. That’s when they spotted something glinting in his mouth: a makeshift lock-pick fashioned from a piece of wire hidden between his lip and gums. Once the cage was stripped of all wires, Fu Manchu’s escapades came to an end.
2. Juan the Andean Bear’s Bicycle Adventure
Anyone familiar with prison break films knows that a getaway vehicle is essential. Juan, an Andean spectacled bear, understood this too. In 2004, he made a bold escape from the Berlin Zoo by floating across a moat on a log and scaling a wall. His first destination? The zoo’s playground, where he startled parents, took a spin on the merry-go-round, and slid down the slide. After a brief play session, he began wandering again. To recapture him, zookeepers placed a bicycle in his path. As Juan examined the bike—perhaps considering it for his escape—he was tranquilized and safely returned to his enclosure.
3. The Wandering Buffalo
Buffalo are known to roam wherever they please. Weighing over a ton, they’re nearly unstoppable when they decide to break free. Bison escapes are surprisingly frequent. For instance, 17 bison were accidentally released from a ranch in Ulysses, NY, in July, and it took over a month to recover 12 of them. In August, four bison escaped an Illinois farm, blocking Interstate 55 until their owners were forced to shoot them to clear the road. Tragically, this is a common outcome; a 2006 escape in Colorado Springs also ended with police shooting the animals.
Thankfully, not all bison escapes end in tragedy. Nine bison once broke free from the Oakland Zoo, bypassing two gates to wander off and feast on poison oak. Zookeepers attempted to lure them back with hay, but it didn’t work. Eventually, they discovered the perfect bait: a trail of Wonder Bread. The bison followed the breadcrumbs and returned safely to the zoo.
4. Reggie the Alligator: The Great Escape Artist
Reggie the alligator has led a rather unconventional life. Initially, he resided in his owners' backyard pool. However, they soon realized that keeping a 6-foot gator wasn’t the wisest idea and decided to release him into an urban lake in Los Angeles in 2005. From then on, Reggie became the city’s responsibility, and officials worked tirelessly to capture him before he could cause any trouble.
City officials soon discovered that Reggie wasn’t an easy catch. Despite numerous attempts, animal-control officers couldn’t capture him, even with the help of professional gator wranglers. After two years and $180,000 spent, Reggie was finally caught and taken to the L.A. Zoo. However, Reggie wasn’t content with his new home. Just days after his debut, he climbed over a five-foot wall to escape. He was later found relaxing on a loading dock before the zoo opened the next morning.
5. Chucky the Alligator’s Hurricane Escape
Reggie isn’t the only alligator with a famous escape story. In 2004, when Hurricane Ivan struck, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo evacuated most of its animals but couldn’t relocate its alligators. The storm destroyed their habitat, setting them free. Among the escapees, Chucky gained notoriety due to his massive size—12 feet long and weighing half a ton. Zoo officials feared that Chucky, accustomed to human interaction, might approach people and pose a danger. After five days on the run, he was finally captured by the Alligator Retrieval Team from Gatorland in Orlando, Florida.
6. Gorilla and Police Face Tense Standoff
In 2004, Jabari, a 300-pound gorilla, broke free from his enclosure at the Dallas Zoo, causing chaos far beyond a simple search for food. He unleashed a rampage reminiscent of Donkey Kong, attacking a mother and her three-year-old son, even placing the child in his mouth at one point. Both victims suffered bite wounds, and another woman sustained arm injuries. As visitors sought refuge in nearby buildings and a monorail, zookeepers attempted to tranquilize Jabari. However, the gorilla evaded capture by hiding in a simulated jungle habitat, making it difficult for handlers to get a clear shot. When two police officers finally located him, Jabari charged at them, leaving no choice but to shoot the animal.
7. Elephant Stampede Causes Chaos
In 2005, the Seoul Children's Grand Park hosted daily elephant parades outside their habitat. However, one day, an elephant became spooked and bolted, prompting five others to follow. The herd stampeded into a nearby home’s garden, and while handlers tried to control them, three elephants broke away and charged into a restaurant. One elephant even struck a woman with its trunk as it ran down an alley near an elementary school. After terrifying numerous residents, the elephants were eventually rounded up and returned to their enclosure.
See also...
6 Unwaveringly Loyal Dogs * 4 Lucrative Jobs with Minimal Effort * 5 Lethal Creatures That Could Save You * 10 Fascinating Coins Worth Collecting * 5 Wild Drinking Tales That Outshine Yours
