2 Chimpanzees Escape from Jos Zoo; One Caught, the Other on the Run

Two male Chimpanzees escaped yesterday, July 12, from their cage at the old zoo in the National Museum and Monument complex in Jos, Plateau State.

According to Plateau News Online, one of the fleeing chimps has since been caught and safely returned to its cage while the other is presently hiding on a tree in a residential area not far from the zoo premises.

Animal is hiding in a tree

In a statement confirming the development, the State wildlife board said firefighters are working to capture the chimp, but that it could be shot if all efforts to safely return it to its cage prove abortive.

“In the early hours of yesterday morning, two chimpanzees escaped from their cage and were harassing passersby at the premises of the Jos National Museum and Monuments,” the statement read.

Firefighters working round the clock to capture the animal

Chimp rescue operation

“One of the chimps was successfully lured back into its cage while the other escaped running out of the Zoo premises and perching on a tree in a residential area located at west of mines neighborhood not far from the zoo premises. 

All efforts by the men of the Plateau State Fire Service to capture it alive proof abortive. After 8 hours of trying, one of the firemen climbed the tree and cut down the branch the Chimp was hanging on making it to fall then running into the grove close to the zoo. 

As at the time of this report, the Chimpanzee was nowhere to be found after disappearing into the thick bushes.”

It would be recalled that early this year a lion was shot and killed after escaping from the Jos Wildlife Park.

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