You may have seen references to a lock-picking ape in the movies, but did you know that the story was based on real events? It happened right here in Nebraska in the late ’60s during what is now referred to as the Omaha Zoo orangutan escape, and the ape in question was a Sumatran orangutan named Fu Manchu.

(None of the photos below are of the real Fu Manchu. We hope you enjoy these pics of other male orangs.)

Fu Manchu lived at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium from 1965 to 1983 - although at that time, it was known simply as the Henry Doorly Zoo.
Jami Tarris / Stone via Getty Images
Fu was known as a sweet, friendly, playful orangutan who loved to interact with other animals and his human keepers. He even helped the keepers at the zoo while they worked with the other orangutans.
But something odd started to happen in 1968. When the keepers arrived at the zoo, they would often find Fu Manchu and four of his enclosure-mates outside of their enclosure.
Wilfredor, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The group never caused trouble or tried to leave the zoo grounds; they just wanted to get out of their enclosure and hang out in other parts of the zoo. Their favorite spot was the elm trees near the elephant enclosure.
The zookeepers were perplexed.
Freder / E+ via Getty Images
How were the apes escaping their enclosure again and again? The head keeper, one of the numerous animal keepers at the zoo, surmised that one of his staff was being careless and leaving a door unlocked. After it happened several more times, he was prepared to fire whoever was responsible.

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One day, a keeper noticed some unexpected movement in the dry moat surrounding the orangutans' area.
Tiago Pratas / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
The head keeper discovered Fu at the door to the furnace room, behind which was a set of stairs and a door leading to the outside.
It turned out that none of the keepers had been careless; it was just that Fu was incredibly intelligent.
Chris Hellier / Corbis Documentary via Getty Images
Fu had been picking the lock to the enclosure using a piece of wire he'd found somewhere. To hide it, he would tuck the wire between his lip and his gums, taking it out only when he wanted to get out for a little excursion. Who would expect an orangutan escape artist?
It's not entirely shocking that Fu Manchu used a tool to get what he wanted.
Fotocitizen/Pixabay
Orangutans are known for being extremely intelligent (of course, there are other intelligent creatures at the zoo as well) and for using simple tools for various tasks. Although his lock-picking days were over, Fu remained a happy, friendly guy who went on to have 20 children and 15 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Fu Manchu was transferred to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas in 1983. He lived out the rest of his life there before passing away in 1992. We’re sure it was a happy life filled with good-natured mischief.

Did you get to visit Fu Manchu when he lived at the Omaha zoo? If so, what did you think? If not, have you been to the zoo to see the other wonderful animals there? We’d love to read about your experiences in the comments section below!

For more interesting facts about the zoo, read 15 Fascinating Things You Probably Didn’t Know About The Henry Doorly Zoo And Aquarium In Nebraska.

You might also want to check out this video about the wildlife found in Nebraska:

 

 

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More to Explore

Adventures in Nebraska

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | March 08, 2023

Where can we find hiking trails in Nebraska?

  • Ash Hollow State Park in Lewellen is where you’ll find the Windlass Hill Trail offering spectacular views.
  • Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge in Washington County features several miles of hiking trails right on the Missouri River.
  • The Branched Oak State Recreation Area in Raymond offers hiking as well as biking, and horse trails.

Read on to learn more about the many spectacular hiking trails in Nebraska.

 

Where can we go camping in Nebraska?

  • Johnson Lake State Recreation Area in Lexington offers primitive and modern camping sites.
  • Chadron State Park in Chadron offers cabins as well as a modern campground.
  • The Calamus Reservoir in Burwell offers some of the best camping in the state with scores of camping sites.

Read on to learn more about the many great places to go camping in Nebraska.

 

Where can we go fishing in Nebraska?

  • Box Butte Reservoir near Hemingford features walleye, crappie, trout, and several types of bass.
  • Branched Oak Lake in Malcolm is known for its excellent catfish varieties.
  • Burchard Lake in Pawnee County features bass, trout, crappie, catfish, and walleye.

Read on to learn about the many picturesque places to go fishing in Nebraska.

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Featured Addresses
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107, USA