Code Red At Denver Zoo As Orangutan Escapes

The words "Code Red" alone are pretty terrifying without any context... but when you put the concept of an escape at the zoo behind it? Even more so!

That's exactly the scenario that unfolded last week at the Denver Zoo, as a malfunctioning enclosure allowed an orangutan to escape an exhibit, leading to the declaration of the code red at the facility.

Watch: Two Denver Zoo Elephants Wave At People And It's Caught on Camera!

Six orangutans call Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance home, and fortunately for the staff and visitors, the malfunctioning gate did not lead to total freedom for the massive Sumatran orangutans. So while they were able to exit their usual habitat, they basically only made it into another locked down, "behind the scenes" type area off their enclosure.

Nonetheless, any time an animal breaches an area they're not supposed to, the zoo staff rightfully treats it as an emergency.

The Denver Zoo sits on over 80 acres of property in the City Park area of Denver. Originally opened in 1896, the Denver Zoo has always been one of the more groundbreaking facilities in America.

Their very first exhibit was a donation of an orphaned American Black Bear, and when they built "Bear Mountain" to house it and future bears as they arrived, the zoo officially became the first in the country to use naturalistic enclosures for its animals, rather than standard cages and jail-like barred enclosed areas.

Read More: The Denver Zoo History and Expansion Over The Years 

The zoo is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM, with no entries permitted after 4 PM each day. Ticket prices range from free for under 2 years old up to $26 for adults age 16-64.