Chimp on the Loose: A Day of Surprise at the Zoo

In a surprising turn of events, a chimpanzee broke free from its enclosure at the Indianapolis Zoo. The incident caused a stir, but thankfully, no one was hurt. Fire crews rushed to the scene after an "animal bite" report around 10:10 a. m. on November 14, 2025. By 11 a. m. , the situation had shifted to an "investigation. " The zoo confirmed that a female chimp was sedated and safely returned to her exhibit by noon. They assured everyone that visitors, staff, and the animal were unharmed. The zoo's teams handled the situation smoothly, and operations resumed as usual. Visitors shared their experiences online. One person mentioned seeing a chimp named Mara roaming freely while handlers tried to tranquilize her. Some guests were guided to safer areas, like the dolphin exhibit, while others left the premises. Sherman Williams, a bus driver, posted about the incident on social media. He was there with a group of kids on a field trip. In the comments, he mentioned that the children were safely back on the bus. The day before, the zoo's Facebook page featured a video of a chimpanzee birthday party. It's unclear if this was the same chimp involved in the escape.