APE ESCAPE

Zoogoers Trapped in Dolphin Enclosure by Escaped Chimpanzee

“Curious and active” Mara caused chaos after getting out of her enclosure.

An escaped chimpanzee caused chaos at the Indianapolis Zoo on Friday, prompting visitors to flee to their cars and take shelter in a nearby dolphin enclosure. The chimp, believed to be a “curious and active” female called Mara, escaped from her compound at around 10 a.m., Fox 59 Indianapolis reported, causing visitors to scatter. Pictures from the scene show the chimp perched on top of the enclosure, while visitors were ushered inside nearby buildings for safety. “I’m on a Field Trip at the Indianapolis Zoo with 37 kids, parents, and teachers. Why is there a Chimpanzee on the loose at the Zoo?” asked bus driver Sherman Williams on the zoo’s Facebook page, as other visitors left to take cover. By 11:42 a.m., the situation was resolved after the chimp was sedated and returned to her enclosure. Zoo officials praised their staff’s swift response and confirmed that guests were safe at all times. The zoo reopened to the public at noon. No one was harmed during the incident, including Mara, who was taken care of while sedated. Mara had come to the midwest zoo in 2023 from Puerto Rico Zoo, where she had been the sole chimp in the zoo.