Chimpanzee flees zoo and climbs electricity mast in desperate escape bid

A chimpanzee fled from a zoo in northern Japan and tried desperately to avoid being captured by climbing an electricity mast.

Male chimp Chacha was on the loose for nearly two hours after he disappeared from the Yagiyama Zoological Park in Sendai.

TV footage showed Chacha perched at the top of the mast, agitated and screaming at zoo workers below.

Even after being hit by a sedative arrow in the back, Chacha desperately tried to escape, dangling from a power line.

He finally gave up and fell down into a blanket held by a dozen workers on the ground.

Zoo officials are investigating how he escaped.