Ken Allen: The Hairy Houdini

In the 1980s a series of high profile escapes brought attention to an unlikely culprit. His name was Ken Allen and he just may be the greatest escape artist the animal kingdom has ever seen. Ken was a 250 pound Bornean orangutan born and raised at the San Diego Zoo.

Ken escaped his enclosure several times despite the zoo’s constant and expensive security upgrades. Although Ken continued to outsmart his keepers, when he did escape, he chose not to go anywhere. Instead, he simply sauntered around the zoo shaking hands with tourists and enjoying watching the other zoo animals.

Ken Allen achieved fame after his escapes garnering his own fan club, the Orang Gang, merchandise with the slogan “Free Ken Allen” pasted onto T-shirts and bumper stickers, and there was even a hit song about his life called “The Ballad of Ken Allen.”

Come hear the incredible true story of the wily, lovable orangutan known as the Hairy Houdini.