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'Ingenious' Ape Mounts Bid to Escape Zoo

AP
posted: 7 HOURS 33 MINUTES AGO
comments: 117
filed under: Animal News, World News
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ADELAIDE, Australia (May 10) - A zoo in Australia was evacuated Sunday after an "ingenious" 137-pound orangutan short-circuited an electric fence and hopped a wall surrounding her enclosure.
The ape, a 27-year-old female named Karta, jammed a stick into wires connected to the fence and then piled up debris to climb a concrete and glass wall at the Adelaide Zoo.
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Zoo curator Peter Whitehead told reporters Karta sat on top of the fence for about 30 minutes before apparently changing her mind about the escape and climbing back into the enclosure.
"I think when she actually got out and realized where she was ... she's realized she shouldn't be there so then she's actually hung onto the wall and dropped back into the exhibit," Whitehead said.
Karta came within a few yards of visitors, who were the first to notice the animal's escape bid.
Whitehead said the animal was not aggressive, but the zoo was cleared as a precaution, and veterinarians stood by with tranquilizer guns in case of trouble.
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"You're talking about an animal that's highly intelligent," Whitehead said. "We've had issues with her before in normal day-to-day operations where she tries to outsmart the keepers. She's an ingenious animal."
Officials at the zoo in the southern city of Adelaide would conduct a "thorough review" of the escape bid and it was likely some vegetation that could be used in a future try for freedom would be removed from Karta's enclosure.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-05-10 10:01:10
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Yammy1932

07:51 PMMay 10 2009

Looks like george bush is trying to stay in the news.

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Lave2000

07:50 PMMay 10 2009

The ape is probably bored; it sounds like she needs some more stimulation. Perhaps Wii tennis?

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(0)

MORANDAG

07:40 PMMay 10 2009

Yep! Folks, you heard it here first. I am convinced after reading some of these AOL post on here, that indeed, THE PLANET OF THE APES scenario is unfolding in our lifetime. LOL!!!

AVG RATING:
(2)

SHOPPINGIRL1022

07:29 PMMay 10 2009

i don't blame her for wanting to escape being in a prison. It's a shame to keep an animal contained. She should have a life of freedom the way it was supposed to be.

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(0)

Dskyjim

07:25 PMMay 10 2009

Maybe this ape has discovered that there is "someplace else" besides the life she lives? When will evolution take the great apes to their next step?Humans may be gone by then but ape may evolve to build the next "intelligent" history of the planet.

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(3)

JMoore2161

07:17 PMMay 10 2009

ha ha JACENDAC .. with such a fine tuned sense of humor you should seek out a career as a ... what ... oh, coroner fits

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(2)

OoLaLaFrenchGirl

06:51 PMMay 10 2009

What a brilliant animal! I think that we often underestimate what animals are capable of.

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bulgeinmyplants

06:50 PMMay 10 2009

NAW,,,,,MY TONGUE IS IN MY CHEEK SO FAR IT'S COMING OUT MY EAR.NICE FEDS........NICE FEDS

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(4)

JACENDAC

06:48 PMMay 10 2009

Oh i'm sorry I thought it was about Obama.

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(13)

MrNova171

06:47 PMMay 10 2009

Yammy1932 05:43 PMMay 10 2009 Vitrioleumjelly i dont know why your calling them my tribes, im not even black, and white people didnt evolve its a known fact white people were in caves in the caucaus mountains eating their own feces, while africans and africa had universities and civilizations a great race, yes its in poor condition now, but you should study on the first african university. Predates any white people.Plus I am not black, but I am not white either. I know how evil and racist white people are and i know you are not going to compare those african wars with the world wars that killed millions upon millions.White people invented mass destruction weapons. White people are devolved and only know how to kill.//// How many millions of Africans are killed in Africa by other AFRICANS each year by civil wars and genocide? and the Theory of Evolution is not a proven fact, keyword is THEORY, and a THEORY is not fact because it has not been proven.....now pick up a history boo...

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