Elephant Escapes Briefly from Albuquerque Zoo Habitat

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Alice, a 52-year-old Asian elephant at the ABQ BioPark Zoo in Albuquerque, New Mexico, briefly escaped from her habitat area on Sunday morning. Zoo staff were able to safely guide Alice back to her enclosure after she spent about 10 minutes outside, eating nearby plants and trees. No other elephants escaped and no one was injured during the incident.

Why it matters

Elephant escapes, while rare, can pose significant risks to public safety and the well-being of the animal. The ABQ BioPark's quick response and the strong bond between the elephant care team and Alice helped ensure a safe resolution to this situation.

The details

At around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, zoo security found Alice outside of her habitat area, where she had been feeding on nearby plants and trees. Staff arrived within 10 minutes and initiated the zoo's emergency response protocol. Because the elephant care team has developed a close relationship with Alice, they were able to calmly call her back to her habitat, where she returned without incident. The zoo opened 30 minutes later than normal to clear debris from where Alice had been eating.

• At around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, zoo security found Alice outside of her habitat area.
• Staff arrived within 10 minutes and initiated the zoo's emergency response protocol.
• The zoo opened 30 minutes later than normal to clear debris from where Alice had been eating.

What’s next

The zoo has stated that the fencing that was damaged during the incident has been secured and repairs and reinforcement are underway.