Bao Bao runs wild after breakout

Bao Bao, a gorilla in Taipei Zoo, stands his ground in this undated photo provided by the zoo. Bao Bao escaped on Saturday and walked around the zoo before being shot with anesthetic darts by zoo staff. PHOTO COURTESY OF TAIPEI ZOO

A 25-year-old gorilla was locked up yesterday by the Taipei City Zoo after he escaped from his enclosure and hurt one zoo visitor on Saturday afternoon. Keepers will not release the 180kg gorilla, named Bao Bao (寶寶), back into his enclosure until they have repaired the fences, said Chao Ming-chieh (趙明杰), a division chief at the zoo.

According to Chao, the gorilla escaped his cage at about 4pm on Saturday and ran over a female visitor on the visitor's path. He then ran around the zoo until he was shot with an anesthetic by a veterinarian.

Chao said the gorilla climbed onto the fake mountain in the display area and jumped over the fence.

While the visitor only suffered mild abrasions, the zoo said it will keep the gorilla in a cage as a precaution until the repair work on the enclosure is complete.