Zoo gorillas escape enclosure, and find where the treats are stored

A brief commotion broke out Thursday morning at the Como Park Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota, when a group of three gorillas escaped out of their habitat after the door was accidentally left unlocked.
The male gorillas, led by a 450-pound male named Virgil, left their enclosure shortly before the opening time for the zoo itself, but never actually got out of a gorilla-proof area. The public was kept in the zoo's conservatory building for safety.
The other two gorillas returned to their home in about 20 minutes. Virgil, however, continued on for a full 50 minutes before he also went back. During his brief wandering, though, Virgil found the ultimate prize: The closet where his treats are kept, which he then proceeded to raid.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"You have a pretty good size gorilla that was wrecking the enrichment closet," said senior zookeeper Allison Jungheim.
Check out the report from the local ABC affiliate, shown below. --Eric Kleefeld
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Thai fish pie with crispy turmeric potatoes recipe
The Week Recommends Tasty twist on the Lancashire hot pot is given a golden glow
-
Palestine Action: protesters or terrorists?
Talking Point Damaging RAF equipment at Brize Norton blurs line between activism and sabotage, but proscription is a drastic step
-
Trump's strikes on Iran: a 'spectacular success'?
In Depth Military humiliations 'expose the brittleness' of Tehran's ageing regime, but risk reinforcing its commitment to its nuclear program
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read