Student’s dramatic rescue from panda enclosure at Adelaide Zoo

Giant panda Wang Wang was fortunately enjoying a kip at the time of the incident. Photo / @ZoosSA, Twitter

A high school student has been rescued from the Adelaide Zoo’s giant panda enclosure after he entered the area to retrieve his phone.

The enclosure was locked down for more than half an hour on Monday after the teenage boy jumped an electrified wire fence around midday.

The boy had been filming the pandas on his phone when he dropped it.

Adelaide Zoo staff sprung quickly into action to rescue the student.

The two resident giant pandas, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, were not disturbed during the ordeal.

“I think Wang Wang slept through the entire time, but my staff certainly didn’t,” Zoos SA chief executive Elaine Bensted said.

“Staff were able to switch off the hot wires that we protect the animal area with and use a ladder to retrieve the student.

“(The boy) did report some tingling in his fingers because he did touch the hot wire, but we’re pleased to say it appears nothing more than that.”

Adelaide Zoo’s panda enclosure is protected by an electrified wire, which the boy touched while going to retrieve his phone. Photo / @ZoosSA, Twitter

The student was taken for a medical check-up, while the enclosure reopened to the public early on Monday afternoon.

The incident was the first of its kind at the Adelaide Zoo enclosure since it opened in 2009.

Wang Wang and Fu Ni have resided at the enclosure since its opening year, and have been involved in a breeding program in recent times.

Zoos SA said Fu Ni had been showing signs of pregnancy following artificial insemination but staff would not be able to confirm whether the zoo’s first panda cub was on the way until mid-2023.

Bensted said Adelaide Zoo would complete a “full debrief” and review its safety protocols.

“We’re very pleased that the incident passed without any impact on either the student or the pandas,” she said.