Chimp makes brief escape from Honolulu Zoo enclosure

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A chimpanzee made a brief escape from its enclosure at the Honolulu Zoo Tuesday afternoon.

Sources tell Hawaii News Now that the chimp jumped on a barrel in its enclosure and hopped out, hopped back in, then hopped out again.

Zoo workers moved all of the guests away from the enclosure, and nobody was hurt.

A zoo worker hit the chimpanzee with a tranquilizer dart, and put it back into its enclosure.

The following is a statement from Honolulu Zoo Director Jeff Wilkinson:

"A chimpanzee escaped from its enclosure at the Honolulu Zoo at approximately 4:45 p.m. this afternoon.  Visitors were evacuated to shelters at the zoo for their safety and the chimpanzee was contained without incident or injury at 5:00 p.m."