Koala escapee recaptured at San Diego Zoo without injury
SAN DIEGO - The male koala who escaped from his enclosure Tuesday morning, scampering up a tree and refusing to come down, was recaptured without injury to the zookeeper or animal, the zoo said.
Two-year-old Mundu was reported missing about 9 a.m. He was spotted in a tree about 30 yards from his enclosure but refused all entreaties to come down.
Zookeepers decided to watch him and put a capture plan into operation when the park closed.
At 5:30 p.m. a zookeeper, using a cherry picker, grabbed Mundu. Although Mundu had suffered no apparent injury during his odyssey, he was taken to a zoo veterinarian for examination.
Zookeepers believe Mundu was motivated by a desire to find a female for mating purposes. He is one of 22 koalas at the zoo.
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Twitter: @LATsandiego
tony.perry@latimes.com
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