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News

Man Rescued After Falling Into Gorilla Habitat At L.A. Zoo

By  Juliet Bennett Rylah
Published Jan 20, 2016 11:00 PM
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A man who works at the L.A. Zoo had to be rescued after he fell into a gorilla habitat this morning.

The unidentified 61-year-old employee fell into a gorilla enclosure at about 8:30 a.m., KTLA reports. The animals were secured and the man was rescued by L.A. Fire Department (LAFD) Urban Search and Rescue members, who lifted him out of the enclosure using a rope system.

The man was taken to the hospital after his rescue for a possible broken leg, and is reported to be in fair condition, according to City News Service. According to LAFD spokeswoman Margaret Stewart, the man fell at least 20 feet, CBS Los Angeles reports.

The gorillas who live in the enclosure are Western Lowland Gorillas, according to ABC News. These are the most common types of gorillas to be seen in zoos. Koko is a Western Lowland Gorilla.

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