Perth Zoo to assess orangutan security after pair escape

Perth Zoo has dismantled part of its orangutan enclosure after two of the animals escaped at the weekend.

Five-year-old male Sungai was hanging from recently installed overhead ropes feature when he fell over a barrier into a garden bed, prompting his mother Sekara to climb out of the enclosure to retrieve the younger primate.

The 26-year-old female moved onto the visitor boardwalk where startled onlookers captured the escape on film.

Perth Zoo's Curator of Operations John Lemon said the mother returned to its enclosure within about 15 minutes.

Lemon told the ABC "this was a one off occurrence where the youngster, being so boisterous, lost his grip and fell from the overhead ropes and landed safely in the garden bed.

"Mum then went to rescue him.

"Her number one priority was to rescue her son, make sure he was safe, then she just tried to return to her exhibit because that's what she knows."

The incident was the second orangutan escape at the Zoo in the past two years.

In 2015, another primate used a shade sale to jump from another part of the exhibit.

Perth Zoo has launched an investigation into the latest incident.

Lemon said the Zoo had also taken immediate steps to make the enclosure more secure, adding “we've not only removed the overhead ropes that seemed to be the breach but we've also placed mum and son in a back area of the exhibit here.

"As well as that we are doing a full review and specialised staff will be monitoring the colony throughout the day."

Lemon also defended the enclosure, saying it met all necessary standards, concluding “(our) orangutan facility is world-class.

"It was designed by world-famous primatologists, conservationists [and] also famous architects and it is built to contain great apes."

The escapees have been checked by zoo vets who said they were calm and in good health.

The pair will be kept away from the enclosure for the next few days until the Zoo can ensure it is completely secure.

Image: Perth Zoo's orangutan Sungai.

18th May 2017 - NEW WESTERN AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ABANDONS PLANS FOR OPEN-RANGE ZOO 

17th January 2017 - PERTH ZOO LOSES BREEDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO OPEN RANGE ZOOS 

24th November 2016 - PERTH ZOO TO RELEASE NUMBATS INTO PREDATOR-FREE WILD

20th September 2016 - PERTH ZOO GALAPAGOS TORTOISE CELEBRATES 50TH BIRTHDAY

 27th July 2015 - PERTH ZOO ORANGUTAN ESCAPE LEADS TO PLANS FOR ENCLOSURE REDESIGN

14th April 2014 - VISITORS GET UP CLOSE TO PERTH ZOO’S ORANGUTANS