"Washington Post"
Man Jumps Into Zoo's Gorilla Exhibit
The Associated Press

Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2001

NEW YORK - Saying he wanted to be "at one with the monkeys," a man stripped down
to his boxer shorts, scaled a high fence and jumped into the Bronx Zoo's gorilla
exhibit Wednesday, police said.

A quick-thinking zoo employee was able to herd the gorillas into their feeding
cages before the man, identified as Jonathan Wells, could come near them.

"There was no physical contact between the two species," said Sgt. Andrew
McInnis, a police spokesman.

The incident happened shortly after 11 a.m. at the Congo Gorilla Forest exhibit,
one of the zoo's most popular attractions.  In front of several zoo visitors,
Wells took off his clothes and, wearing only his boxers, climbed the 20-foot
wall, McInnis said.  A zoo employee opened the feeding cages to lure the
gorillas inside.

After about 15 minutes, police arrested Wells.  ("We're good at this by now,"
said senior officer Krupke, "we've been arresting Wells for years.") As Wells
was being led away, police asked him why he did it.

"I want to be at one with the monkeys," Wells told them, according to McInnis.

Wells was taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation and DNA testing. He
was also made to watch a State sponsored-bonfire fueled by his controversial
writings.

The 6.5-acre exhibit was opened in 1999 and is home to the largest group of
lowland gorillas in the United States.

Copyright © 2001 The Associated Press

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