So I figured it was time for a short reprieve from the day's politics, and lo and behold, I ran across this story about an ingenious orangutan that cartwheeled, tight-rope-walked, and put on a short trapeze show to escape from its enclosure at the Toronto Zoo on Thursday.

Kembali — one of the zoo’s seven Sumatran orangutans — was caught outside of the zoo's new outdoor orangutan exhibit, leaving staff scratching their heads over how he escaped the otherwise secure perimeter.

In a series of posts on X, the zoo appealed to zoo guests who were at the orangutan habitat on Thursday evening: 

Our investigation and review continues, and we are appealing to any guests who were at the orangutan outdoor habitat Thursday evening, who may have captured video footage, to please contact Graham Birtles, Supervisor, Health & Safety Services at [email protected].

Great idea, but did it work?

Our investigation and review continues, and we are appealing to any guests who were at the orangutan outdoor habitat Thursday evening, who may have captured video footage, to please contact Graham Birtles, Supervisor, Health & Safety Services at [email protected].

— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) August 31, 2024

Fortunately, the zoo's posts to X were seen by guests who were at the orangutan habitat when Kembali made his daring escape, several of whom had taken video and photos.

The zoo thanked the "many visitors" who responded. 

We want to thank the many guests and members who sent us video and photographs from the orangutan habitat as they have been instrumental in helping us better understand how Kembali, the male orangutan was able to climb down the tower and access the area just outside the habitat.

As I suggested at the top, a short reprieve from politics is never a bad thing.

We want to thank the many guests and members who sent us video and photographs from the orangutan habitat as they have been instrumental in helping us better understand how Kembali, the male orangutan was able to climb down the tower and access the area just outside the habitat. pic.twitter.com/bEsv7SBjze

— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) August 31, 2024

So here's how the rascal did it:

After reviewing video footage and photographs from both the Toronto Zoo and guests from August 29th, our preliminary investigation shows that Kembali was on one of the towers at the south end of the outdoor habitat when he swung in a cartwheel-like motion from the bottom rope (o-line) to the platform, around the secondary barrier (hot wire) near the top of the tower, and then grabbed a gusset (steel bracket) located under the platform. From there he was able to climb down the tower. 

Impressive. I mean, I'm not an orangutan, but wow.

After reviewing video footage and photographs from both the Toronto Zoo and guests from August 29th, our preliminary investigation shows that Kembali was on one of the towers at the south end of the outdoor habitat when he swung in a cartwheel-like motion from the bottom (1/2)

— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) August 31, 2024

rope (o-line) to the platform, around the secondary barrier (hot wire) near the top of the tower, and then grabbed a gusset (steel bracket) located under the platform. From there he was able to climb down the tower. (2/2)

— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) August 31, 2024

So now that Kembali is safely back in his new outdoor habitat, I wonder if he's plotting his next escape.

Only the orangutan knows.