LA Zoo Worker Falls into Gorilla Enclosure

A maintenance worker suffered a possible broken leg today when he fell into a gorilla exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo.

The man fell into the enclosure at the zoo in the 5300 block of West Zoo Drive about 8:30 a.m. and was lifted to safety after about 30 minutes, Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

Zoo officials said the fall was still under investigation, and they do not know how the man lost his footing.

The grounds maintenance worker was “tending to the landscape this morning at the gorilla habitat, lost his footing on a planter and fell 15-20 feet into the moat,” according to the zoo.

The employee remained conscious during the incident, and was rescued out of the moat using “ladders, ropes and a litter,” zoo officials said.

The four gorillas living in the habitat were “still secure in their night quarters behind the scenes,” according to the zoo.

City News Service; Photo: LA ZOO