Chronology of Orangutan Escaping from Solo Safari, Entering a Restaurant
An orangutan at Solo Safari zoo in Central Java escaped and made its way out of the zoo complex on Tuesday (18/8).
Solo Safari management confirmed that the orangutan, which was believed to have escaped, originated from its facility.
“After receiving information regarding the incident, the TSI (Taman Safari Indonesia) Group immediately deployed an internal team with expertise in animal handling to carry out security measures on the ground,” said Solo Safari Marketing Manager Danu Widi Kismara in a written statement.
Danu said that Solo Safari had successfully secured the orangutan. Solo Safari also apologised for the concern caused among residents living near the zoo as a result of the animal escape incident.
“We would like to apologise for the concern that arose and we affirm that the safety, security and comfort of the public are the top priority in every step of our handling,” said Danu.
Solo Safari General Manager Miyana Harikna received information that the orangutan had escaped and immediately checked the enclosure. The initial information that the orangutan was missing came from a keeper who did not find it inside the enclosure.
“At 15.10 WIB, we then checked the condition of the animals as well. There is always someone on guard at all times, and it turned out that he was not at the location. So the internal team, because they already have expertise in animal handling, eventually carried out security measures on the ground,” he explained when contacted by journalists on Tuesday, as quoted from detikJateng.
Miyana said the Solo Safari team searched outside the enclosure for 30 minutes. Eventually, the orangutan was found on the main road.
“So actually it was just because we had a brief search process, approximately 30 minutes outside the enclosure. Because at around 16.40 the animal had already been successfully rescued,” he explained.
In addition to strict security measures, Didi the orangutan has now been placed on an island in the middle of a lake. The orangutan is said to have a two-year-old child.
“That is correct, he is indeed on the island. Tomorrow he can be seen on the island. He is a male, a male orangutan. Indeed, he is like that, the male is better. His child is still around two years old, he still has a baby, still nursing from its mother,” he said.
Miyana revealed the cause of the orangutan’s escape and its wandering onto the main road. Miyana said the orangutan was curious and climbed the wall.
“The cause of the escape is already known. Our security measures are layered, and it is because orangutans can imitate humans 90% of the time, so he was very curious to see and do this,” said Miyana.
Miyana said his team had implemented very strict security measures. However, the orangutan named Didi also removed the electric security device provided by Solo Safari.
“In detail, we have already discovered that he climbed and removed the electric security device. That is the essence of it,” he revealed.
Based on a video circulating on social media, the orangutan was quite large. In a hunched position, its height was almost the same as an adult human.
The animal endemic to Indonesia appeared to be standing in the car park of a restaurant south of Solo Safari. Before entering the restaurant, it was seen pushing over one of the parked motorcycles, causing it to fall onto another motorcycle.
The parked motorcycle did not actually appear to be blocking the primate’s path. After knocking over the parked motorcycle, the orangutan was then seen walking into the restaurant.