The Mysterious Case of Ken Allen: Unpacking the Orangutan Escape Artist In 1978, a remarkable story emerged from the Oregon Zoo in Portland, where an orangutan named Ken Allen had somehow escaped his enclosure.
He slipped through a narrow opening and scaled several feet of wire mesh without leaving any visible signs of forced entry or exit.
It wasn't until hours later, when zookeepers discovered him lounging in his own private hideaway – a makeshift sanctuary within the enclosure's framework – that they realized just how extraordinary Ken's abilities were.