Adelaide Zoo panda enclosure for Wang Wang and Fu Ni locked down after boy went in to get phone

A high school student was dramatically rescued by zookeepers after jumping an electrified fence into the panda enclosure at an Australian zoo to retrieve a phone.

Adelaide Zoo was forced to lock down the panda exhibit early on Monday afternoon when they realised the teenager had jumped into the enclosure to get the phone he dropped while filming. 

It is the first such security breach since the panda enclosure was built in 2009 to house Australasia’s only breeding pair of giant pandas, Wang Wang and Fu Ni.

Only Wang Wang was present in the enclosure at the time with Elaine Benstead, Zoos SA CEO, confirming both the panda and the boy were unharmed. 

A teenager had to be rescued after jumping a fence into a zoo enclosure holding a pair of the world’s last remaining Giant Pandas (pictured: Wang Wang at Adelaide Zoo)

‘There was no giant panda in sight through this entire time, in fact, I think Wang Wang slept through the entire excitement – my staff didn’t.

‘(The boy) was fine, he did report some tingling in his fingers because he did touch the hot wire.’

One witness said the boy was part of a school group and dozens of zookeepers raced into the enclosure to rescue him.

The zoo said they are satisfied with the outcome but would review the incident as a precaution. 

The boy was part of a school group visiting the Adelaide Zoo on Monday (file image)

‘While Zoos SA is confident that its response was timely and in proportion to the incident, it will review all safety protocols and procedures,’ they said.

‘Zoos SA regularly undertakes emergency scenario drills to ensure the highest level of safety for all visitors, staff and volunteers.’

The panda enclosure has been reopened to visitors.