Paignton Zoo evacuated visitors and staff as a desperate hunt began for the monkey – which can swing through trees at 35mph. The zoo had just opened its doors to the public on Wednesday after being closed for two weeks due to an outbreak of bird flu. But just hours after the grand opening, the gibbon had escaped. The zoo immediately went into lockdown, issuing an “amber alert” and evacuating the grounds. One witness said: “I gather it was a large gibbon. A member of staff told me it wasn’t dangerous so it was on yellow.” Another said: “We are all evacuated now but there are zoo workers running around like crazy.” Gibbons – which are about two feet tall – are usually not a threat to humans, however, like any wild animal, they can become aggressive when they believe they are in danger. Monkeys use their voices to warn off intruders – one of the loudest calls of all primates. A spokesman for Paignton Zoo said: “Earlier today, a gibbon escaped from its enclosure here at Paignton Zoo. “As a precautionary measure zoo visitors have been evacuated from the area in accordance with the procedure we have in place for escaped animals. “Zoo staff regularly conduct escape drills and follow strict protocol to deal with incidents like this. “Staff are currently working to rehome the animal.”
