Chimps recaptured by Zoo & Wildlife Waystation Staff

At 3:00 PM today two female chimpanzees escaped from their holding crate while being unloaded in an off-exhibit area of the Los Angeles Zoo. The Los Angeles Zoo has worked over the past two days to assist in the fire evacuation of a total of 46 chimpanzees and several reptiles from the Wildlife Waystation located in Angeles National Forest.

Zoo and Wildlife Waystation staff reacted immediately by evacuating the area and chemically immobilizing the adult female within twenty minutes of her escape. She was retrieved in the South America section of the Zoo. The female was then transported to the Zoo's health center.

The second female, a juvenile, wandered up the hillside near the off-exhibit condor area and climbed over the perimeter fence of the Zoo into Griffith Park. She was calmed by Wildlife Waystation employees and at 4:18 PM, led into the back of a truck by her trainer, who accompanied her to the Zoo's Health Center.

The chimpanzees are being held in an off-exhibit section of the Los Angeles Zoo until the threat of fire to the Wildlife Waystation has passed.