Gorilla escapes zoo, attacks woman
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Gorilla escapes zoo, attacks woman*
From correspondents in Amsterdam
May 19, 2007 03:19am
Article from: Reuters
AN 11-year-old male gorilla caused panic when it burst out of its
enclosure at a Rotterdam zoo on Friday, attacked a woman and went on a
rampage in the cafeteria before being recaptured.
The woman was treated in hospital after being bitten by Bokito, leader
of Blijdorp zoo's gorillas, but her wounds were not serious, Dutch news
agency ANP quoted zoo director Ton Dorresteijn as saying.
Another woman injured herself when she fell and a man in a wheelchair
was also in a crowd of people.
An employee of the zoo was treated for shock after being surprised by
suddenly seeing the gorilla at close range, zoo director Dorresteijn said.
Bokito suddenly jumped over a ditch surrounding his enclosure, attacked
the women and entered a crowded restaurant in the zoo's grounds, ANP said.
Dorresteijn suggested he might have felt threatened and tried to defend
the females and two young gorillas in his group.
An ape expert from another Dutch zoo said Bokito was in puberty which
may have explained his unpredictable behaviour.
Bokito smashed several chairs and tables in the restaurant before being
recaptured.
The zoo was evacuated while the beast was loose but was reopened to the
public later in the afternoon.