21 Dangerous Zoo Animal Escape Attempts From Around the World

Zoos are designed to keep both visitors and animals safe, but history has shown that escape attempts do happen, often in ways we don't expect. Whether caused by human error, property damage, or the sheer determination of the animals themselves, the incidents we've gathered show all of the risks involved when it comes to housing wild creatures in captivity.

Some of these escapes were brief, ending with keepers quickly recapturing the animals. However, others led to full-scale city alerts, injuries, and, in tragic cases, animals being killed when recovery proved impossible. 247 Tempo is here to give you all of the details about these headline-making zoo escapes, including the animals who escaped, where they escaped from, and their eventual fates.

To compile this list, we reviewed reports from BBC News, CNN, The Guardian, National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, NPR, Associated Press, and local news outlets documenting notable zoo escapes worldwide.

• Date: June 1985
• Location: San Diego, California, USA

An orangutan named Ken Allen became famous for his repeated escapes, once strolling through the zoo like a visitor. He scaled walls and outsmarted barriers, earning the nickname 'the Hairy Houdini.' Keepers had to redesign his enclosure multiple times, just to keep him inside. He was recaptured without harm but inspired worldwide fascination in his escapes.

• Date: 1981
• Location: New York City, USA

In the 1980s, a polar bear managed to climb out of its enclosure at the Central Park Zoo. The incident sparked panic among visitors and city-goers until zookeepers tranquilized the animal. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the story underscored the dangers of outdated enclosures, leading to updated housing for many predators at this metro zoo.

• Date: December 25, 2007
• Location: San Francisco, California, USA

A Siberian tiger named Tatiana escaped her enclosure after leaping a wall at the San Francisco Zoo. She fatally mauled one teenager and injured two others before police were forced to put her down. The case led to major lawsuits and stricter zoo safety standards across the country, especially for large predators like tigers.

• Date: February 2019
• Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

Several chimpanzees used a fallen tree branch as a ladder to climb out of their enclosure at the Belfast Zoo. Visitors filmed them wandering near paths before they eventually returned on their own; one had to be coaxed back by keepers, but all the rest viewed the event as an enriching escape.

• Date: 1913
• Location: Leipzig, Germany

A lion escaped and roamed the city streets of Leipzig all the way back in the early 1900s, causing widespread alarm. Police eventually shot and killed the animal when all capture attempts failed. It remains one of Europe’s most infamous zoo escapes from the early 20th century.

• Date: July 2018
• Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

A jaguar named Valerio escaped and killed nine other zoo animals at the Audubon Zoo. The jaguar was tranquilized and returned to its enclosure unharmed. The tragedy prompted investigations into enclosure security and animal welfare protocols; thankfully, the jaguar didn't have to be put down because it never harmed zoo guests, only other animals.

• Date: 1986
• Location: London, England, UK

Five gorillas broke out of their enclosure at the London Zoo, terrifying visitors and causing alarm in nearby London neighborhoods. Keepers quickly evacuated the area and tranquilized the animals before they could get too far. No humans were harmed, but the story became part of London Zoo legend.

• Date: June 2013
• Location: Washington, D.C., USA

An adorable red panda named Rusty slipped out of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. After a citywide search and viral Twitter updates, he was thankfully found in a nearby neighborhood. Rusty’s brief adventure made him a social media star, though the National Zoo was just grateful to have him home.

• Date: October 2018
• Location: Dudley, England, UK

A snow leopard named Margaash escaped through an unlocked door left by staff. Sadly, he was shot dead for public safety reasons after leaving the enclosure. The incident raised questions about training and protocol at this zoo and beyond, especially given that this tragedy could've easily been prevented.

• Date: June 2015
• Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Floodwaters destroyed enclosures at the Tbilisi Zoo in Georgia, freeing multiple animals. One of these escapees included an elephant. Images of the elephant wandering city streets shocked the world. Soldiers later guided it back safely, but many other animals perished in the disaster.

• Date: July 2012
• Location: Cologne, Germany

A group of wolves escaped from their enclosure at the Cologne Zoo by digging beneath their fence. Some were recaptured alive, but others were shot to protect nearby crowds and neighborhoods. The story reignited debate about space and ethics for predators in zoos, especially endangered species.

• Date: October 2017
• Location: London, England, UK

The London Zoo's faced multiple escapes in its history. A Sumatran tiger named Melati got into an adjacent enclosure, killing a male tiger. While not a public escape, it exposed flaws in internal barriers and enclosures throughout the zoo's facilities. The event devastated conservation staff working with this precious, endangered species.

• Date: 2012
• Location: Duisburg, Germany

Three kangaroos hopped over fences at this German zoo by using holes dug by wild boars sharing their enclosure. Two were recaptured quickly, but one made it miles away before being found. The quirky escape captured media attention during the early 2000s and, thankfully, all made it home without incident.

• Date: 1977
• Location: Winston, Oregon, USA

Several cheetahs escaped their enclosure at this drive-thru zoo in Oregon, leading to a tense standoff. Police and staff surrounded the area before tranquilizing the big cats, citing the owners of the zoo and the dangers their facility poses to locals. The zoo upgraded the fencing afterward, but questions still remain about the reliability of this small wildlife area.

• Date: 1932
• Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

A giant panda briefly escaped from the Copenhagen Zoo, causing public excitement throughout the city. It was quickly recaptured with no injuries, though many news articles caused a buzz about the escape. Early enclosures were later modernized to prevent similar incidents, as the zoo's modest facilities were not prepared for such a crafty panda.

• Date: 2009
• Location: Perth, Australia

A 62-year-old orangutan named Puan escaped her enclosure at Australia's Perth Zoo. Staff coaxed her back without tranquilizers, and she was returned to her home without issues. However, her advanced age and cleverness made headlines globally, and she became a star because of the escape.

• Date: 2021
• Location: Indore, India

A leopard was brought to the Indore Zoo from a private home in order to be treated and rehabilitated. However, before it could be assisted, it escaped and caused chaos. The city was on high alert for the big cat before it was eventually found and tranquilized. It took hours to locate the leopard, but the sigh of relief after finding it was needed.

• Date: 2016
• Location: Santiago, Chile

Two lions nearly escaped into a visitor area of this Chilean zoo after a man entered their enclosure in a suicide attempt. Keepers shot the lions to save the man’s life and prevent them from escaping the same way the man entered. The event sparked outrage and protests, as no one found it fair to the lions involved.

• Date: 2000
• Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

A cheetah named Casper escaped the Cincinnati Zoo and caused panic among guests and city goers. Keepers tranquilized and secured it within a mere 15 minutes, ending his wild ride to freedom. It was unharmed, but the escape prompted enclosure modifications, as he had apparently jumped the stone fence.

• Date: March 2004
• Location: Dallas, Texas, USA

A 300-pound gorilla named Jabari escaped from the Dallas Zoo and injured four people. Police were forced to shoot and kill him to protect the visitors. The tragedy led to new standards for primate enclosures and an investigation into the Dallas Zoo's methods of containment.