NEWS
ABQ BioPark attempts to make elephant habitat 'Alice-proof' after weekend escape
If the incident happened while the zoo was open, 'it would have caused a lot of panic,' visitor says
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Alice the Asian elephant was standing inside her ABQ BioPark habitat on Monday afternoon when Calli Hamlin told her to 鈥渃ome here.鈥�
As the 52-year-old walked over toward Hamlin, BioPark鈥檚 assistant curator of elephants told her, 鈥済ood girl.鈥�
When Alice got closer, Hamlin threw a cantaloupe at Alice, who ate it.
The trust Alice and staff members, like Hamlin, have in each other played an important role in getting the elephant back to her habitat safely after she escaped over the weekend, BioPark Director Brandon Gibson said during a news conference on Monday.
On Sunday morning, Alice knocked down a fence at a watering hole inside the habitat and got out, he said.
鈥淚t took her a little time, but she was able to make it through,鈥� Gibson said.
Alice made her way down the public walkway to the giraffes before reaching the entry to the Asia habitat where staff called her back without any problems, he said.
No other elephants left the habitat and no one was injured during the incident, which caused the zoo to open a half-hour late so it could clear debris 鈥渇rom where Alice ate plants and trees,鈥� according to BioPark.
Gibson said he doesn鈥檛 know why Alice escaped. Maybe she wanted to go for a walk, but that is 鈥渙nly speculation,鈥� he said.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful that everything went so smooth, that our training worked, that our emergency response worked and that we were able to keep Alice safe, the staff safe and also be able to reinforce the habitat,鈥� he said.
Rio Rancho resident Anthony Sena was watching Alice hang out on Monday when he learned about the incident.
鈥淚magine if it happened when the park was opened,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t would have caused a lot of panic. Hopefully, they take the proper precautions going forward 鈥� and make sure it doesn鈥檛 happen again.鈥�
To prevent another escape, Gibson said BioPark is repairing the fence and adding 鈥渟egments of steel to keep it strong and Alice-proof.鈥�
Gregory R.C. Hasman is a general assignment reporter and the Road Warrior. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.
