The Ape Escape: 29-stone gorilla breaks free from London zoo

KUMBUKA, the 7ft tall, 29 stone male silverback gorilla who escaped his enclosure at London zoo, forcing the deployment of armed police, has been tranquilised and returned to captivity. 

Frantic scenes were reported from the famous tourist site on Thursday evening after the 18-year-old smashed through his enclosure and began roaming the park at will. There are unconfirmed reports that he was upset by taunts from the public. 

Witnesses who ran into hiding described seeing at least 20 men armed with semi automatic weapons arrive at the scene shortly after the alarm was raised at 5.15pm.

Although Kumbuka is now reportedly awake and well, there are calls for an urgent inquiry into how he managed to escape the ‘secure’ perimeter, and into the fundamental wisdom and morality of keeping wild animals imprisoned for public entertainment. 

The Born Free Foundation, which campaigns for the gradual abolition of zoos, said that there should be a serious investigation into the “safety and welfare of great apes in UK zoos.”

A zoo official described Kumbuka’s escape as a “minor incident” and claimed that “at no time were any of our visitors in any danger.”

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