Visitors warned not to stare at ‘psycho’ Kumbuka before gorilla smashed out of London Zoo

VISITORS to London Zoo were warned beforehand not to stare at “psycho” gorilla Kumbuka because it made him agitated.

Kumbuka, pictured receiving gifts on his 16th birthday, was a ‘psycho’ and visitors were warned before his escape not to star at him. Picture: Georgie Gillard/ANL/REX/Shutterstock

VISITORS to London Zoo were told not to stare at 184kg male gorilla Kumbuka because it made him more aggressive, just minutes before he escaped.

The 18-year-old giant Western lowland silverback gorilla, who zoo staff reportedly have called “psycho”, sparked panic when he smashed through his glass enclosure.

Kumbuka, who stands 2.1m tall, roamed through the zoo for around 90 minutes on Thursday while terrified families were shut inside zoo buildings.

Armed police and zookeepers eventually shot him with a tranquilliser dart and recaptured him.

Zoo visitor Chloe Hughes, a veterinary student, described the moment Kumbuka charged towards her and her terrified friends before breaking through the enclosure.

“I was standing near the front. We were in there for a long time. The silverback was distressed,” The Sun reported.

Kumbuka, on a happy day, launches himself at the glass as zookeepers bring presents on his 16th birthday in 2013. Picture: Georgie Gillard/ANL/REX/Shutterstock

“Staff asked everyone to be quiet. We were at the front and they asked us to get out.

“They came to the front with their arms out. Then he jumped onto the rope and smashed against the glass.

“After that happened, we all screamed.”

Oliver Barker, 24, saw Kumbuka looking “agitated” inside his enclosure and charging at spectators.

Following Kumbuka’s escape, a member of London Zoo’s staff described the animal as a “f***king psycho”.

Video footage after the break out shows armed police hunting the escaped beast around a keeper area of the zoo.

London’s Scotland Yard warned the public to stay indoors as visitors were ushered into zoo buildings over fears the 18-year-old beast had escaped into the public area

“Police were called by security at Regents Park at 5.17pm to reports of an ongoing incident,” Scotland Yard said in a statement.

Kumbuka, pictured after arriving at London zoo in 2013, developed a ‘psycho’ personality and became agitated while being looked at by zoo visitors. Picture: Heathcliff O'Malley/REX/Shutterstock

Malcolm Fitzpatrick, curator of mammals at London Zoo, describes Kumbuka’s escape. Picture: David Mirzoeff/PA Wire

The exterior wall at London Zoo where silverback gorilla Kumbuka was on the run after escaping his enclosed on Thursday. Picture: David Mirzoeff/PA Wire

Zoo staff told The Sun that Kumbuka was “awake and well” on Thursday evening after the gorilla had been returned to his enclosure following his recapture.

“A male gorilla got out of his den at ZSL London Zoo and into a non-public keeper area at 5:13pm on Thursday, 13 October 2016,” the zoo said in a written statement.

“The gorilla remained contained within the exhibit’s off show area.

“It is not yet confirmed how the incident occurred and a full investigation will be carried out to determine what happened.”

Malcolm Fitzpatrick, curator of mammals at London Zoo, told the BBC Kambuka was “up and grumbling, and interacting with the rest of his family in his gorilla kingdom”.

Mr Fitzpatrick described the gorilla as “a very popular animal and he’s doing very well,” adding: “I understand he will be given his favourite treats a bit later on”.

Eyewitness Brad Evans, who was allowed to leave the zoo during the lockdown, told BBC Radio London: “We were in the zoo for the day, having a cup of coffee in the main restaurant area when they locked us all in and said there was an incident.

“They gave us free teas and coffees and obviously we were asking what was going on and they told us that a gorilla had got out of its enclosure and that we weren’t allowed out of the park at half-five so we had to wait.

“As we were waiting we saw the police turning up in numbers with loads of guns.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission