Ken Allen: Difference between revisions

Ken Allen
Species	Bornean orangutan
Born	February 13, 1971; San Diego Zoo
Died	December 1, 2000 (aged 29)
Cause of death	Euthanasia issued due to b-cell lymphoma
Known for	Escaping from his enclosures repeatedly

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Ken Allen (February 13, 1971 – December 1, 2000) was a Bornean orangutan at the San Diego Zoo. He became one of the most popular animals in the history of the zoo because of his many successful escapes from his enclosures. He was nicknamed "the Hairy Houdini".^[1]^[2]

Ken Allen was born in captivity at the San Diego Zoo in 1971. In 1985, he gained worldwide attention for a series of three escapes from his enclosure, which had been thought to be escape-proof. During some of his escapes, his female companions joined him. Ken Allen's ability to outwit his keepers, as well as his docile demeanor during his escapes, resulted in fame. He had his own fan club, and was the subject of T-shirts and bumper stickers (most reading "Free Ken Allen"). A song, "The Ballad of Ken Allen", was written by David Gersten about him.

Ken Allen developed prostate cancer^[3] and was euthanized on December 1, 2000.^[4] He was 29 years old.

Escapes[edit]

In 1985, during his three escapes on June 13, July 29, and August 13, Ken Allen peacefully strolled around the zoo looking at other animals. Ken never acted violently or aggressively towards zoo patrons or animals.

Zookeepers were initially stumped over how he had managed to escape. Zoo staff began surveillance of his enclosure to try to catch him in the act, only to find that he seemed to be aware that he was being watched. This forced zookeepers to go "undercover", posing as tourists to learn Ken Allen's escape route, but the ape was not fooled. Moreover, other orangutans began following Ken Allen's lead, escaping from their enclosure.^[5] Zoo officials eventually^[when?] hired experienced rock climbers to find every finger-, toe- and foothold within the enclosure, spending $40,000 to eliminate the identified holds.

Time in 2011 listed Ken Allen's story as one of the Top Eleven Zoo Escapes.^[1]

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b Silver, Alexandra (June 24, 2013). "Top 11 Zoo Escapes". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
^ Middleton, Duncan (August 7, 2016). "The missing lynx and five other animal escapees including Ken Allen the Orangutan". BBC Newsbeat. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
^ Dankula, Count. "Absolute Mad Lads - Ken Allen, The Hairy Houdini". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
^ PERRY, TONY (December 2, 2000). "San Diego Zoo's Beloved Escape-Artist Ape Dies". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on December 19, 2010. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
^ "Aping an Escape Artist : 2 Orangutans Follow Mate's Footsteps and Go 'Awall' From Zoo Enclosure". Los Angeles Times.

External links[edit]

TV news clips about Ken Allen from KFMB-TV

[Time-1] Silver, Alexandra (June 24, 2013). "Top 11 Zoo Escapes". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved December 25, 2018.

[2] Middleton, Duncan (August 7, 2016). "The missing lynx and five other animal escapees including Ken Allen the Orangutan". BBC Newsbeat. Retrieved December 25, 2018.

[3] Dankula, Count. "Absolute Mad Lads - Ken Allen, The Hairy Houdini". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.

[4] PERRY, TONY (December 2, 2000). "San Diego Zoo's Beloved Escape-Artist Ape Dies". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on December 19, 2010. Retrieved December 25, 2018.

[5] "Aping an Escape Artist : 2 Orangutans Follow Mate's Footsteps and Go 'Awall' From Zoo Enclosure". Los Angeles Times.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Bornean orangutan at the San Diego Zoo}}
+{{use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
 {{for|people named Ken Allen|Kenneth Allen (disambiguation)}}
+{{infobox animal
-[[File:Ken Allen orangutan.jpg|thumb|right|Ken Allen]]
+|image = Ken Allen orangutan.jpg
-'''Ken Allen''' (1971&ndash;2000) was a [[Bornean orangutan]] at the [[San Diego Zoo]]. He became one of the most popular animals in the history of the San Diego Zoo because of his many successful escapes from his enclosures. He was nicknamed "the hairy Houdini".<ref name="Time">{{Cite news|url=http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2041628_2041646_2041609,00.html|title=Top 11 Zoo Escapes|last=Silver|first=Alexandra|date=2013-06-24|work=Time|access-date=2018-12-25|language=en-US|issn=0040-781X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/36745764/the-missing-lynx-and-five-other-animal-escapees-including-ken-allen-the-orangutan|title=The missing lynx and five other animal escapees including Ken Allen the Orangutan|last=Middleton|first=Duncan|date=2016-08-07|website=BBC Newsbeat|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-12-25}}</ref>
+|species = [[Bornean orangutan]]
+|birth_date = {{birth date|1971|2|13}}
+|birth_place = [[San Diego Zoo]]
+|known = Escaping from his enclosures repeatedly
+|death_date = {{death date and age|2000|12|1|1971|2|13}}
+|death_cause = [[Euthanasia]] issued due to [[b-cell lymphoma]]
+}}
+'''Ken Allen''' (February 13, 1971 &ndash; December 1, 2000) was a [[Bornean orangutan]] at the [[San Diego Zoo]]. He became one of the most popular animals in the history of the zoo because of his many successful escapes from his enclosures. He was nicknamed "the Hairy [[Harry Houdini|Houdini]]".<ref name="Time">{{Cite magazine|url=http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2041628_2041646_2041609,00.html|title=Top 11 Zoo Escapes|last=Silver|first=Alexandra|date=2013-06-24|magazine=Time|access-date=2018-12-25|issn=0040-781X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/36745764/the-missing-lynx-and-five-other-animal-escapees-including-ken-allen-the-orangutan|title=The missing lynx and five other animal escapees including Ken Allen the Orangutan|last=Middleton|first=Duncan|date=2016-08-07|website=BBC Newsbeat|access-date=2018-12-25}}</ref>
-Ken Allen was born in captivity at the San Diego Zoo in 1971. In 1988, the Wall Street brokerage firm Alex Brown & Company made a sizeable donation to the zoo and requested they name their "ugliest" orangutan after one of the firms equity traders. <ref>{{cite news |title=Wall Street Journal |date=May 25, 1988 |ref=P. B9}}</ref> (A conflicting source says Ken Allen was named after two zookeepers<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/2016/06/24/orangutan-ken-allen-san-diego-zoo-escape-artist-469908.html}}</ref>) During the 1980s, Ken Allen gained worldwide attention for a series of three escapes from his enclosure, which had been thought to be escape-proof. Ken Allen's ability to outwit his keepers, as well as his docile demeanor during his escapes, resulted in fame. He had his own fan club and was the subject of T-shirts and bumper stickers (most reading "Free Ken Allen"). A song, ''The Ballad of Ken Allen'', was written about him.
+Ken Allen was born in captivity at the San Diego Zoo in 1971. In 1985, he gained worldwide attention for a series of three escapes from his enclosure, which had been thought to be escape-proof. During some of his escapes, his female companions joined him. Ken Allen's ability to outwit his keepers, as well as his docile demeanor during his escapes, resulted in fame. He had his own [[fan club]], and was the subject of [[T-shirt]]s and [[Bumper sticker|bumper stickers]] (most reading "Free Ken Allen"). A song, "The Ballad of Ken Allen", was written by David Gersten about him.
-Ken Allen developed cancer and was [[euthanasia|euthanized]] in December 2000.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2000/dec/02/news/mn-60111|title=San Diego Zoo's Beloved Escape-Artist Ape Dies|last=PERRY|first=TONY|date=2000-12-02|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2018-12-25|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> He was 29 years old.
+Ken Allen developed [[prostate cancer]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dankula |first1=Count |title=Absolute Mad Lads - Ken Allen, The Hairy Houdini |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSgpcW8Hw4Y  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/GSgpcW8Hw4Y |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |access-date=5 April 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and was [[euthanasia|euthanized]] on December 1, 2000.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2000/dec/02/news/mn-60111|title=San Diego Zoo's Beloved Escape-Artist Ape Dies|last=PERRY|first=TONY|date=2000-12-02|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2018-12-25|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=December 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219221806/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/dec/02/news/mn-60111|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was 29 years old.
 ==Escapes==
+In 1985, during his three escapes on June 13, July 29, and August 13, Ken Allen peacefully strolled around the zoo looking at other animals. Ken never acted violently or aggressively towards zoo patrons or animals.
+Zookeepers were initially stumped over how he had managed to escape. Zoo staff began surveillance of his enclosure to try to catch him in the act, only to find that he seemed to be aware that he was being watched. This forced zookeepers to go "undercover", posing as tourists to learn Ken Allen's escape route, but the ape was not fooled. Moreover, other orangutans began following Ken Allen's lead, escaping from their enclosure.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Aping an Escape Artist : 2 Orangutans Follow Mate’s Footsteps and Go ‘Awall’ From Zoo Enclosure |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-26-me-2537-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Zoo officials eventually{{when?|date=November 2017}} hired experienced [[rock climbing|rock climbers]] to find every finger-, toe- and foothold within the enclosure, spending $40,000 to eliminate the identified holds.
-During his escapes, first on June 13, 1985, again on July 29, 1985, and on August 13, 1985, Ken Allen would peacefully stroll around the zoo looking at other animals, and never acted violently or aggressively towards zoo patrons or other animals. Zookeepers were initially stumped over how Ken Allen had managed to escape.
+''[[Time Magazine|Time]]'' in 2011 listed Ken Allen's story as one of the ''Top Eleven Zoo Escapes''.<ref name = "Time" />
-Zoo staff began surveillance of his enclosure to try to catch him in the act, only to find that Ken Allen seemed to be aware that he was being watched for that very purpose. This forced zookeepers to go "undercover", posing as tourists to learn Ken Allen's escape route, but Ken Allen was not fooled. Moreover, other orangutans began following Ken Allen's lead and began escaping from the enclosure.<ref>[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58488106.html?dids=58488106:58488106&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+26%2C+1987&author=KATHIE+BOZANICH&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Aping+an+Escape+Artist+2+Orangutans+Follow+Mate's+Footsteps+and+Go+%60Awall'+From+Zoo+Enclosure&pqatl=google Los Angeles Times, August 26, 1987, cited at pqarchiver]</ref> Zoo officials eventually{{when?|date=November 2017}} hired experienced [[rock climbing|rock climbers]] to find every finger, toe, and foothold within the enclosure and spent $40,000 to eliminate the identified holds.
+==See also==
-''[[Time Magazine]]'' in 2011 listed Ken Allen's story as one of the ''Top Eleven Zoo Escapes''.<ref name = "Time" />
+* [[List of individual apes]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 20: / Line 32: @@
 ==Further reading==
 {{Refbegin}}
-*{{Citation |author=Associated Press |date=1 December 2000 |title=Popular San Diego Zoo orangutan dies of cancer |work=Associated Press Newswires |id={{Factiva|aprs000020010804dwc105h0e}} |url=http://www.sddt.com/News/article.cfm?SourceCode=20001201cf |accessdate=30 May 2011}}
+*{{Cite news |date=1 December 2000 |title=Popular San Diego Zoo orangutan dies of cancer |work=San Diego Source|id={{Factiva|aprs000020010804dwc105h0e}} |url=http://www.sddt.com/News/article.cfm?SourceCode=20001201cf |access-date=30 May 2011}}
-*{{Citation |last=Jefferson |first=David |last2=Callahan |first2=Bill |date=17 August 1985 |title=Ape's latest escape try foiled: Zoo discovers method to orangutan madness |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |page=A-1 |id={{Factiva|SDU0000020070702dh8h00907}}}}
+*{{Cite news |last1=Jefferson |first1=David |last2=Callahan |first2=Bill |date=17 August 1985 |title=Ape's latest escape try foiled: Zoo discovers method to orangutan madness |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |page=A-1 |id={{Factiva|SDU0000020070702dh8h00907}}}}
-*{{Citation |last=Linden |first=Eugene |year=2000 |title=The Parrot's Lament: And Other True Tales of Animal Intrigue, Intelligence, and Ingenuity |publisher=Penguin |isbn=0-452-28068-0}}
+*{{Cite book |last=Linden |first=Eugene |year=2000 |title=The Parrot's Lament: And Other True Tales of Animal Intrigue, Intelligence, and Ingenuity |publisher=Penguin |isbn=0-452-28068-0}}
-*{{Citation |last=Lubrano |first=Gina |date=31 July 1985 |title=A stool pigeon for orangutan? |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |pages=B-5 |id={{Factiva|SDU0000020070702dh7v00b0n}}}}
+*{{Cite news |last=Lubrano |first=Gina |date=31 July 1985 |title=A stool pigeon for orangutan? |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |pages=B-5 |id={{Factiva|SDU0000020070702dh7v00b0n}}}}
-*{{Citation |last=Osment |first=Noel |date=19 June 1985 |title=Holiday for Ken |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |pages=C-2 |id={{Factiva|SDU0000020070702dh6j00h64}}}}
+*{{Cite news|last=Osment |first=Noel |date=19 June 1985 |title=Holiday for Ken |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |pages=C-2 |id={{Factiva|SDU0000020070702dh6j00h64}}}}
-*{{Citation |last=Raffaele |first=Paul |year=2011 |title=Among the Great Apes: Adventures on the Trail of Our Closest Relatives |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-06-167184-5 |page=305}}
+*{{Cite book |last=Raffaele |first=Paul |year=2011 |title=Among the Great Apes: Adventures on the Trail of Our Closest Relatives |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-06-167184-5 |page=305}}
-*{{Citation |last=Robinson |first=Phillip T. |year=2004 |title=Life at the zoo: behind the scenes with the animal doctors |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=0-231-13248-4 |pages=64–66, 76}}
+*{{Cite book |last=Robinson |first=Phillip T. |year=2004 |title=Life at the zoo: behind the scenes with the animal doctors |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=0-231-13248-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/lifeatzoobehind00robi/page/64 64–66, 76] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/lifeatzoobehind00robi/page/64 }}
-*{{Citation |last=Scarr |first=Lew |date=4 August 1985 |title=Ken-Allen, the Houdini of orangutans |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |page=B-1 |id={{Factiva|SDU0000020070702dh8400bbt}}}}
+*{{Cite news |last=Scarr |first=Lew |date=4 August 1985 |title=Ken-Allen, the Houdini of orangutans |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |page=B-1 |id={{Factiva|SDU0000020070702dh8400bbt}}}}
-*{{Citation |last=Scarr |first=Lew |date=14 August 1985 |title=Orangutan throws a crowbar into Zoo's planning |pages=B-1:3,5, 6 |id={{Factiva|SDU0000020070702dh8e009de}}}}
+*{{Cite news |last=Scarr |first=Lew |date=14 August 1985 |title=Orangutan throws a crowbar into Zoo's planning |pages=B-1:3,5, 6 |id={{Factiva|SDU0000020070702dh8e009de}}}}
-*{{Citation |last=Steinberg |first=James |date=2 December 2000 |title=Orangutan Ken Allen euthanized at S.D. Zoo: Beloved ape, 29, was renowned escape artist |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |pages=B-1:1,2,7; B-3:2 |id={{Factiva|sdu0000020010813dwc201cfi}}}}
+*{{Cite news |last=Steinberg |first=James |date=2 December 2000 |title=Orangutan Ken Allen euthanized at S.D. Zoo: Beloved ape, 29, was renowned escape artist |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |pages=B-1:1,2,7; B-3:2 |id={{Factiva|sdu0000020010813dwc201cfi}}}}
-*{{Citation |last=Wilkens |first=John |date=26 December 1988 |title=Q: WHAT'S RED AND ESCAPES NINE TIMES? A: Ken Allen and the Zoo orangutans |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |page=B.2 |id={{Factiva|SDU0000020070630dkcq00i8d}}}}
+*{{Cite news |last=Wilkens |first=John |date=26 December 1988 |title=Q: WHAT'S RED AND ESCAPES NINE TIMES? A: Ken Allen and the Zoo orangutans |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |page=B.2 |id={{Factiva|SDU0000020070630dkcq00i8d}}}}
 {{Refend}}
 ==External links==
+* [https://www.cbs8.com/video/news/local/throwback/ken-allen-san-diego-zoos-legendary-orangutan-escape-artist/509-ea3db578-73ec-4ff9-927d-15c5d6ef8e93 TV news clips] about Ken Allen from [[KFMB-TV]]
-*[http://www.counterpunch.org/2008/12/16/orangutans-resistance-and-the-zoo/ ''Orangutans, Resistance and the Zoo''] by Jason Hribal
-*[http://www.newsweek.com/2016/06/24/orangutan-ken-allen-san-diego-zoo-escape-artist-469908.html ''Meet Ken, San Diego Zoo’s Most Infamous (and Hairiest) Escape Artist''] by Joe Veix
 {{Notable apes}}
-{{San Diego Zoo Global}}
+{{San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance}}
 [[Category:1971 animal births]]
 [[Category:2000 animal deaths]]
-[[Category:Individual animals in the United States]]
+[[Category:Animal deaths by euthanasia]]
 [[Category:Individual orangutans]]
+[[Category:Individual primates in the United States]]
 [[Category:Missing or escaped animals]]
 [[Category:San Diego Zoo]]

v t e Notable non-human apes
List of individual apes List of individual monkeys Monkeys and apes in space List of fictional primates
Bonobos	Kanzi Nyota Panbanisha
Chimpanzees	Ai Ayumu Azalea Bonzo Pierre Brassau Bubbles Cheeta Congo Enos Gregoire Gua Ham Jiggs Jimmy Jinx Jo Mendi II Julius Kasakela chimpanzee community Kokomo Jr. Lana Little Mama Loulis Lucy Macaco Tião Marquis Chimps Mitumba chimpanzee community Moja J. Fred Muggs Nim Chimpsky Oliver Pankun Panpanzee Sami Santino Sarah Sultan Travis Viki Washoe
Gorillas	Alfred the Gorilla Babec Binti Jua Bobo Bokito Charles the Gorilla Colo Fatou Gargantua Guy the Gorilla Harambe Ivan Jambo Jenny John Daniel Jumoke Koko Kokomo Louis Massa Max Michael Nico Ndume Ozzie Pattycake Pogo Samson Shabani Snowflake Timmy Titus Trudy Toto Willie B.
Orangutans	Abang Ah Meng Azy Bonnie Chantek Jenny Joe Martin Karen Karta Ken Allen Manis Nonja (Austria) Nonja (Malaysia) Sam Sandra Tonda

Ken Allen: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 22:52, 30 April 2024

Escapes[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]