San Diego Zoo's legendary orangutan escape artist in 1987 1988 and 2000

Two stories from 1987 and one from 2000. Ken Allen was one of the zoo's most famous residents. He successfully escaped his zoo home several times. The beloved Bornean orangutan died in 2000 at the age of 29. He had prostate cancer.

[@colinlarson9656]

That was a wonderful time to be growing up in the City. RIP Ken Allen, you were loved by all.

[@j5nephews558]

Ken Allen was one of a kind and a great example of the intelligence and compassion of animals. Humans could take a lesson from him

[@LSheWolf84]

Rest in peace Ken Allen, the sweet prince of the San Diego zoo. You will always be remembered and terribly missed.

[@Steve52344]

I wish I would've known him.

[@GODCONVOYPRIME]

Ken Allen is an American Hero and a great Patriot.

[@vjc2270]

Orangutans are amazing. I love that he was called “Ken Allen”. ❤❤

[@AnarinaTV]

I love his name. Rest in peace Ken Allen. ❤❤❤

[@Jay-ThundaBolt]

Ken Allen I'm sorry about your passing as I heard for the very first time. You were a strong Orangutan with intelligence held in captivity even though you were the biggest part of San Diego's family of the zoo. You will always be deeply missed. R.I.P. Mr Ken Allen sorry you had cancer 🙏🙏🙏💐🌹🌺🌸💮🌻🌻💐🌹🌺🌷🌸💮

[@tpolerex7282]

We used to often go to that never visited south east corner of the exhibit where Ken mostly escaped from and we saw him often still hanging down there planning yet another illicit excursion no doubt.

[@wildrose302]

He was legendary!

[@liberatedwoman]

He’s an ambassador of goodwill.

[@SavoxYT]

Orang Gang represent!

[@vitaluna1568]

RIP Kenny! Seems to be very gentle.

[@MakeupMobster]

I wonder if this is the same orangutan that broke the glass when I was there as a kid! I have a photo of the broken glass. Zoo keepers told us he had broke that glass many times and also had escaped. My brother was playing with a Gumby toy he found in the zoo and the orangutan was sitting by the glass watching my brother play with it. He decided to grab a rock and was tapping on the glass and finally the entire pane of glass shattered! Thank god it was tempered glass! Everyone who was standing there ran in fear! My mom left me and my brother in her dust as she ran screaming for help! My dad was no where to be found and my mom was scared he was back there wrestling the orangutan. When we got back to the enclosure, my dad was standing there laughing. The orangutan, much like the people, got spooked when the glass shattered and he took off running in the opposite direction. My dad was the only one who stayed and watched! Everyone else took off running! This was back in the 80’s so I wonder if this was the same orangutan

[@CherieMagnus]

Ken Allen, I’m so sorry we never met. Rest In Peace, my friend.

[@swamp5050]

He was trying to make his way to the beach for a bit of surfing, I'm sure he would have gotten a lift and a beer had he made it to the parking lot! The legend lives on....😎

[@ForestGirlTeresa]

The fact that Ken Allen wanted to escape shows he wasn’t content to stay in his enclosure. He needed a whole forest to roam in. 😢

[@Steve52344]

This kills me. Ken Allen. So wonderful.

[@fluffyrivermonster]

I wonder if he kept getting out because he was bored? It's sad when a beloved zoo animal dies. I remember Olga a walrus at the Brookfield zoo in Illinois. I saw her several times when I was a small child. I went there again in 8th grade. I came home crying telling my dad she had died and was no longer there.

[@cshirmer8416]

I guess it was in his nature to have more space with trees and food without pesticides . RIP.🙏🦧🙏 😢😔

[@Greylock21]

Ken Allen You have complete freedom now. But your Forever Caregiver is your lifelong 🧡 friend. Be at peace sweet boy.

[@jimmymosierjr.7530]

KenAllen was so bad, like bad as-! My dad took so much pleasure to tell us when he'd escape.

[@troutfisher7182]

Awww RIP Ken Allen

[@sorryinadvance5362]

What happened to kens family

[@en2oh]

Apparently, there is confusion regarding Ken’s pathology. Was it prostatic cancer or lymphoma?

[@druoleary]

@3:19 they say lymphoma.

[@Larry_Dean]

1:48 absolute gold 😂

[@rickwilliams967]

I can never wrap my head around the fact that these animals are able to escape. It shouldn't be possible. Build a box with a glass or strong wire roof (to allow for trees and sunlight, essentially a greenhouse) and no walls that could be climbed. Then lock the damn door. How are you people not able to accomplish this?

[@ejhickey]

Ken Allen made monkees out of the Zoo keepers.

[@karlthorsten9118]

Ken loved being with people, hence his constant escapes. But he HATED OTIS.

[@Ultimate_Sin-ry9iw]

A legend

[@gloriabrawldy5325]

At least his free, and not in captivity any more.

[@barnabasschuler9025]

He is so tame😮

[@nadinemoen]

❤

[@HektorBandimar]

😢Very sad to hear.😢

[@BagelBoy97]

There goes my heroooo

[@gillianday4804]

wow, i am impressed

[@SylvainSybaris]

So because the ape was too cleaver and always got out of the encloser, the Zoo decided to kill the ape?... Yet, they say the ape was special and will be missed by everyone?... This doesn't make any sense... You can't blame a smart ape for escaping because it doesn't understand that it's in a Zoo.

[@Dragon-xd9em]

He had prostate cancer? Did you even pay attention to the video?

[@beansbaxter6506]

Ken Allen needs to sue for slander

[@dova3282]

Did he just grin? 😃 0:53-0:59

[@matanc3489]

yes. He was probably thinking about his next escape haha

[@LethalBubbles]

Cute: smart orangutan. Not cute: Journalists making a joke out of treating prisoners humanely.

[@hipdogdsv]

RIP Ken Allen

[@jackburton1455]

0.56 sounds like Johnny Depp from Fear and loathing

[@BlackandProud350]

why did people talk so strangely?

[@kja9881]

I am named Ken Allen! 😂Lol

[@Aurochhunter]

Or maybe he wouldn't have been in the jail becasue he would have escaped from it.

[@punklover99]

Orang gang for life

[@mandelazing4712]

Is ken Allen really dead 🤔 or he must be taken to Area 51 to do research cause of his high intelligence. Dont take it wrong way its just my thought. Rest In Peace.❤

[@chipbutty3645]

We are great apes so orangutans aren’t far behind us in intelligence. It isn’t rare to see orangutan do things as smart as people

[@orionsarrow1025]

0:43 the lady sounds like Elastigirl

[@arthid7223]

เค้ามีรวงผึ้งอยู่ที่ข้างแก้มของเค้าด้วยละ

[@Jay-pi8tf]

Hes already in jail🙄

[@StrAnGErous420]

Orangang!

[@RealFarknMcCoy]

I wonder why they said he had lymphoma rather than prostate cancer?

[@j5nephews558]

So he had prostate cancer?

[@duk210]

if a creature escaped that many times maybe it shouldnt have been in there in the first place

[@Whooopsnobodybusinessactually]

Zoos gotta go. It’s time

[@tabbycat6458]

I think the only one he would go after would have been the zoo keepers😂😂😂😂. They killed him probably because he went after the director ❤

[@wildrose302]

He had prostate cancer. He always cooperated with the keepers when they took him back to the exhibit.

[@anitat9727]

​@@wildrose302 At that point, he was just messing with zoo keepers then.

[@georgianasalter]

Get a hint. Rehanilitate him to be released in the wild.