Contact:  Zoo Public Relations

He's new to the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden. He's curious, clever and agile. "He" is 8-year-old "Elok" (El-lick) a Sumatran orangutan who found his way out of his new outdoor habitat at the Zoo's Great EscApe exhibit on Wednesday, February 18.

Shortly after 10:00 am, Elok climbed into the dry moat surrounding Great EscApe and then climbed the exterior moat wall and ended up in the flower bed next to the guest path. A Zoo staff member saw most of this occurrence and immediately enacted the Zoo's Code Red Animal Escape procedures. The code lasted approximately 15 minutes and Elok went back inside the holding area of Great EscApe without incident. No Zoo guests were in the immediate area at this time but as part of the code, Zoo gates were secured and guests on grounds including construction crews were ushered into buildings for safety precautions. Zoo staff are evaluating the habitat where this occurred to determine how Elok was able to leave the habitat. Elok will remain in indoor areas while the Zoo assesses the habitat.

Safety drills are conducted at the Oklahoma City Zoo at least once a month with scenarios ranging from snake bites and tornadoes to lost children and animal escapes. "The Zoo is dedicated to the safety of our guests, staff and the animals in our care," said Dwight Scott, Executive Director. "Safety is our number one priority."

Elok was born at the Memphis Zoo November 1, 2000 to Mother Puti (Poo-tee) and father Tomback (Tom-back.) Due to his mother's inability to properly care for him, Elok was hand-raised until 12 months of age and moved to the Houston Zoo where keepers continued this process until he was introduced to his surrogate mother, Cheyenne. He arrived in Oklahoma City November 2008. After a 30-day standard quarantine, Elok was introduced to Toba, the Zoo's 41-year-old female. Elok's arrival in Oklahoma City is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Orangutan Species Survival Plan program (SSP). SSPs are a collective effort between accredited  AZA institutions to ensure the survivability of species from around the world. Through breeding programs and population management, SSPs seek to establish healthy, self-sustaining animal populations that are genetically diverse and demographically stable. Orangutans are an endangered species due to deforestation of rainforests, poaching and smuggling for the pet trade.

The Zoo is open daily from 9am to 5pm. See okczoo.com for more information.

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Editor's Note:  Elok will be available for viewing at his indoor dayroom inside the Zoo's Great EscApe.  Due to continued introductions to the Zoo's female orangutan, Elok may not be available for public viewing at all times.