African antelope briefly tastes freedom at NYC zoo

[September 12, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- An exotic antelope has briefly tasted freedom after escaping its enclosure at a New York City zoo.

The kudu, a species of African antelope, was spotted by a photographer Sunday.

The photographer, Andrew Lichtenstein, tells the Daily News (http://nydn.us/p2WOOc) that the animal was sticking to an area of shrubs and trees at the zoo near where people would be walking.

The handsome antelope, with large spiraling horns and stripes on its body, apparently had gotten restless and somehow walked out of the exhibit.

Lichtenstein says a food stand worker called Bronx Zoo officials, and a zoo employee soon had the kudu back inside. Zoo officials haven't returned a call seeking comment.

A pair of male kudus joined a herd of gazelles in the zoo's popular outdoor African Plains exhibit this summer.

___

Information from: Daily News, http://www.nydailynews.com/

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.