Chimpanzee escapes zoo, chase ensues

SENDAI, Japan — Animals around the world must want out.

A day after a very smart octopus escaped from a New Zealand aquarium, a chimpanzee named Chacha escaped from a zoo in Japan

The Japan Times reported that Chacha was one of five chimps at the Yagiyama Zoological Park in Sendai, Japan.

According to zoo officials, around 1:20 p.m., zoo staff noticed one of the chimpanzees was missing.

Zoo officials closed the park as a precaution and a nearby elementary school was instructed not to let students out of the school until Chacha was caught.

The chimp led zoo officials through a residential area.

ABC News reported that the chase lasted two hours.

Chacha was caught Thursday afternoon in a residential area. He climbed up a telephone pole and ran across the wires.

He was shot with a tranquilizer gun and fell from power lines.

Zoo director Toshikatsu Ouchi apologized to local residence in a press conference.

According to reports, zoo officials have launched an investigation.

Cox Media Group