Chimpanzee sedated, returned to enclosure following escape at Indianapolis Zoo
INDIANAPOLIS (WPTA) - A chimpanzee who reportedly escaped from its enclosure at the Indianapolis Zoo on Friday has been sedated and returned to its enclosure.
Emergency crews were called to the zoo around 10:10 a.m. on Friday on reports of a loose animal, WPTA affiliate WRTV reports.
They say two field trips for middle school students were scheduled for the zoo on Friday, but M.S.D. of Wayne Township’s Public Information Officer Jeannine Templeman reports the students never made it off the buses because of the loose chimpanzee.
Templeman says parents were notified about the situation.
WPTA affiliate WTHR says Senior Vice President of External Relations at the Indianapolis Zoo Jake Oakman said the female chimpanzee got outside of the International Chimpanzee Complex.
Oakman says no one was bitten or injured during the chimp’s escape, and the zoo is back open following a brief lockdown.
The chimpanzee has also been safely returned to its enclosure.
To be the first to get the latest breaking news alerts, download the 21Alive News App here.
You can also catch the latest news from 21Alive anytime on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV. Just search “21Alive” in the app store and download the app to your device.
Copyright 2025 WPTA. All rights reserved.
