Gorilla Incident At Como Zoo

Media Alert
July 10, 2014
Contact: Matt Reinartz
matt.reinartz@stpaul.gov
651.487.8294 (o)
651.248.9836 (c)  

This morning at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory there was an incident involving the bachelor group of gorillas. At no time was the public, staff, or animals ever in danger. At 12:30pm today Matt Reinartz, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Spokesperson, and Allison Jungheim, Como Zoo Senior Keeper, will be available for comment in front of Gorilla Forest at Como Zoo.

Time line:

At 9:50 this morning a radio call was made that the bachelor group of three gorillas had left their indoor enclosure thru an unsecured door behind the scenes of the indoor gorilla habitat. The gorillas were always secured within the building and within gorilla proof barriers.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory does not open to the public until 10am and those on the grounds were secured into safe areas.

At 10:10 two of the three gorillas (Sampson and Jabir) were secured in their habitat.   The third, Virgil, was still exploring the inside secured area and at 10:40 Virgil moved into the habitat.

Como Staff has a detailed Emergency Response procedure that includes animal escape situations and that are practiced regularly.  The Como Emergency response team moved into position to successfully mitigate the situation and at no time was the public, staff, or animals ever in danger.

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