Chacha The Chimp Attempts Daring Escape From Japanese Zoo

A chimpanzee living in a zoo in Northern Japan made a daring escape and climbed up an electricity pole before he was hit by a sedative dart, falling harmlessly from the wires into a blanket held by rescue workers. Chacha the chimp survived falling from a great height with just a few minor cuts and bruises zoo officials said. The whole encounter thrilled Japan however, with television viewers glued to their screens as Chacha managed to evade capture and swung from power lines in a high state of agitation.

Didn’t get very far

Chacha’s escape lasted for nearly two hours following his disappearance from Sendai’s Yagiyama zoological park. The city is set to play host to the G7 finance minister’s meeting which will take place this month. Electricity to 1,848 homes had to be turned off briefly during the incident according to Tohoku Electric Power Company. Witnesses say the chimp was able to climb over the wall of his enclosure and then made a dash for freedom by climbing up a telephone pole and leaping on to power lines. Chacha didn’t get very far and was captured just 250 metres away from the zoo.

Shot by tranquilliser dart

Television footage showed the chimp sat atop a pole clearly agitated and screaming at his handlers below. One zoo worker shot Chacha in the back with a dart that sent him running along the wires. The chimp managed to pull the dart out but it had already delivered a dose of sedative. Chacha then appeared to lose his grip as the sedative began to take effect and suddenly fell head first into the blanket. Chacha is a middle aged chimp and zoo officials say he will feel the effects of the sedative for a couple of days but will completely recover.

Japanese television viewers captivated by great escape

Japanese viewers were transfixed by the entire episode which took place just a few weeks after another animal breakout which was also televised and occurred in Gifu prefecture. At the end of March, a zebra went on the rampage on a golf course, chased by portly policemen after breaking out of a nearby horse riding farm. That escape did not end well with the zebra drowning after falling into the water following being hit by a tranquilliser dart.