Large Orangutan Escapes Enclosure at Solo Safari, Wanders into Bengawan Soft-Bone Chicken Eatery
A large orangutan from the Solo Safari collection escaped from its enclosure on Tuesday (18/8) towards late afternoon and made its way into the residential area on the western side of the zoo.
The orangutan’s walk towards the village near the UNS campus did not cause panic among residents or road users on the western side of Solo Safari. Nevertheless, no one dared to disturb or chase the animal away.
Upon entering the yard of the Bengawan Soft-Bone Chicken eatery, which was busy with customers, the rare animal knocked over several parked motorcycles.
The Taman Safari Indonesia Group, which received reports of the orangutan’s escape, acted quickly to evacuate the animal before it could harm residents.
“After receiving information about the incident, TSI Group immediately deployed an internal team with the competence to handle wildlife to secure the area,” said Dani Widi Krismara, representing management in a statement to journalists via the Solo Safari WhatsApp group.
According to him, the handling process was carried out in a measured manner, prioritising the safety of the public and the animal, in accordance with applicable procedures.
“The team succeeded in securing the orangutan, evacuating it and returning it to its exhibit in a controlled condition,” Dani added.
He explained that during the evacuation process, TSI Group ensured handling that considered both public safety and animal welfare, as an inseparable part of TSI Group’s animal management standards.
“Everything is under control, and TSI Group is conducting a thorough evaluation of the sequence of events, including procedural aspects and the security system. The results of the evaluation will serve as the basis for strengthening security to ensure similar incidents can be minimised in the future,” he explained.
TSI Group understands the concern and discomfort felt by residents around UNS as a result of this incident and extends its apologies to the community.