Gorilla attack raises fears about orangutan

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

A zoo gorilla's frightening rampage in Texas Thursday has added fuel to the debate over Rusti the orangutan's future at the Honolulu Zoo.

RUSTI

Honolulu City Council members are worried the city would be solely responsible if Rusti, who is owned by a nonprofit group, escaped and harmed someone.

The council last week postponed a decision on the Orangutan Foundation International's offer to build a new enclosure for Rusti at the Honolulu Zoo. The popular great ape could be moved elsewhere if the issue is not resolved soon.

The injured in Dallas included Keisha Heard and her 3-year-old son Rivers Noah, who was bitten multiple times on his head and chest.

"I'm watching this gorilla. He has my son in his mouth, he's attacking him, and I tried to help him and there wasn't really anything that I could do," Heard said yesterday on NBC's "Today" show.

Former Honolulu Zoo director Paul Breese said the incident underscored how dangerous and unpredictable even the best-behaved apes can be.

"Apes are notoriously unreliable in terms of changing their behavior when their mood changes, and if they're in a grumpy mood they can be very different than they were before," Breese said. "And even with the very best supervision of safety procedures, there are possibilities of human error."

Gorillas and orangutans have many similarities, but orangutans can pose more of an escape risk because they're excellent climbers and have a knack for finding an enclosure's weak spots, he said.

"They're both incredibly powerful creatures," said Breese, who ran the zoo from 1947 to 1965. "Orangs are more mechanically inclined."

An orangutan at the San Diego Zoo was dubbed the "Hairy Houdini" after repeatedly escaping during the 1990s. The zoo spent $45,000 on improvements to stop the breakouts.

Councilwoman Barbara Marshall said part of her concern about the deal to keep Rusti is that it would allow the foundation frequent access to him, but leave the zoo responsible for any problems. It also would allow Rusti to be replaced by another orangutan that might not be as well-behaved, she said.

"I know people just adore Rusti, but we as council members have to be concerned about the liability and the cost to taxpayers," Marshall said.

Council Parks Committee chairman Mike Gabbard said he's hopeful lawyers can work out a compromise by the panel's next meeting on March 30.

"I think we all want Rusti's situation improved as soon as possible, because he's been languishing for too long in substandard quarters," he said. "But the City Council has legitimate concerns."

Orangutan foundation attorney Jon Van Dyke could not say for sure whether those terms would be changed, but said negotiations would continue.

"From the perspective of the foundation, they are offering a fine facility, food indefinitely, a caretaker and a fine animal, and it's unusual that the council is asking for more," Van Dyke said. "It's fair to say there's still hope it will be worked out, but it's not clear it will be worked out."

He said the enclosure would be well-designed, with input from zoo officials and concern for safety.

Mayor Jeremy Harris said he's satisfied with the foundation's offer. Cross-bred orangutans like Rusti are among the most docile zoo animals, and it would be a shame to lose him, Harris said.

"The least the city can do is assume the risk of having the animal at the zoo, especially when someone else is providing the enclosure," he said. "I don't think there's any risk, regardless of who assumes it."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.