What’s better than a day at the zoo? Just imagine you and your family are walking around with a cool drink, enjoying the sunshine and the weather, and learning all about some of the most unique creatures in the world. Each exhibit is an exciting moment with animals that make your day feel like a fairytale; exotic birds are singing, dolphins and exotic fish are swimming, and giraffes are towering over you. Sounds pretty amazing, right?
That’s exactly what zoo-goers were looking forward to when they walked into one of Paris’ most popular zoo’s: Parc Zoologique de Paris.
On Friday, January 26, 2018, a staffer noticed “something off” while walking toward a service corridor. When he turned around, he was shocked to see a baboon!!
Immediately, first responders were called and all zoo attendees were asked to vacate the premises. Even though the baboons are zoo animals, they are still wild creatures and precautions had to be taken. Officials warned anyone who might encounter the animals to not approach them, saying, “They are stronger than us.”
After first responders arrived, animal keepers, vets, and responders came to the terrifying realization that more than 50 baboons were free in the zoo. Every staffer and first responder immediately launched a “recapture procedure” for the escaped animals.
While many baboons were found running wild through the park, a majority of the animals congregated in the zoo’s primary meeting area, Le Grand Rocher, a giant fake-rock centerpiece, smack-dab in the middle of the zoo.
Staffers are still unaware of how the baboons escaped, however, they are sure that any remaining missing baboons are still on the 36-acre zoo property and are most likely hiding in trees. The park will remain shut until all monkeys are back in their enclosed habitats.