A  29-stone, 7ft, Male Gorilla  Kumbuka, the western lowland silverback’s escape from its enclosure at London Zoo, did not endanger the public, but it could have ended very differently according to the Born Free Foundation. The foundation wants to see zoos phased out- has called the Zoo Expert Committee, the government’s advisory body, to investigate the welfare of great apes in zoos across the UK. Chris Draper, the foundation’s associate director for animal welfare and care said “While we are all relieved that this incident apparently ended without injury to visitors or to the gorilla, it is another startling reminder of the risks associated with maintaining dangerous wild animals in captivity.”

The zoo said it was investigating the minor incident on Thursday 13^th October 2016.

Armed police were called in as staff sought to tranquilise and recapture the gorilla to take back into captivity.

Kumbuka, ealier smashed his way out of the Gorilla Kingdom enclosure to the astonishment of hundreds of visitors.

Kumbuka, who came from Paignton Zoo in Devon in 2013, is understood to be one of seven gorilla’s at the zoo’s £5m Gorilla Kingdom enclosure which was opened in 2007 by Duke of Edinburgh.

In the US, Harambe, another gorilla, was shot and killed at Cincinnati Zoo after a young boy fell into its enclosure, although the boy was seriously hurt.