Ken Allen facts for kids
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| Species | Bornean orangutan |
|---|---|
| Born | February 13, 1971 San Diego Zoo |
| Died | December 1, 2000 (aged 29) |
| Cause of death | b-cell lymphoma |
| Known for | Escaping from his enclosures repeatedly |
Ken Allen was a famous Bornean orangutan who lived at the San Diego Zoo. Born on February 13, 1971, he became one of the zoo's most popular animals. People loved him because he kept finding clever ways to escape from his home! He was even nicknamed "the Hairy Houdini" after the famous escape artist.
Ken Allen was born at the San Diego Zoo. In 1985, he became famous around the world. This was because he escaped from his enclosure three times. His home was thought to be impossible to escape from! Sometimes, his female orangutan friends would even join him on his adventures.
People were amazed by Ken Allen's smart thinking. He always outsmarted his zookeepers. Even more, he was always calm and gentle during his escapes. He never hurt anyone or anything. This made him a true star! He even had his own fan club. You could find his picture on t-shirts and bumper stickers. Many of them said "Free Ken Allen." Someone even wrote a song about him called "The Ballad of Ken Allen."
Sadly, Ken Allen got sick with a type of cancer called b-cell lymphoma. On December 1, 2000, he was peacefully put to sleep by the zoo staff. He was 29 years old.
Ken Allen's Amazing Escapes
Ken Allen's escapes in 1985 were legendary. His first escape was on June 13. Then he escaped again on July 29. His final famous escape happened on August 13. During these adventures, Ken Allen would calmly walk around the zoo. He loved to look at the other animals. He was never mean or aggressive towards people or other animals.
At first, the zookeepers were completely puzzled. They couldn't figure out how Ken Allen was getting out! Zoo staff started watching his enclosure very closely. They hoped to catch him in the act. But Ken Allen seemed to know he was being watched. He wouldn't escape when they were looking.
This made the zookeepers try a new plan. They went "undercover" and pretended to be regular tourists. They hoped to discover Ken Allen's secret escape route. But Ken Allen was too smart for them! He still wasn't fooled. What's more, other orangutans started to follow his lead. They also began escaping from their own enclosure!
Zoo officials eventually had to hire expert rock climbers. These climbers carefully checked every part of the enclosure. They looked for any tiny spot Ken Allen could use to climb out. The zoo spent $40,000 to fix these spots. They wanted to make sure no orangutan could escape again.
In 2011, Time Magazine wrote about Ken Allen. They listed his story as one of the Top Eleven Zoo Escapes of all time!
