Great esc-ape artist

Karta at Adelaide Zoo. Photo / Supplied

She hot-wired her way to freedom but Karta was only a temporary rebel with a cause.

The 62kg orang-utan used a stick to short circuit electric wires around her enclosure at Adelaide Zoo, then piled up some more sticks to climb out.

But zoo staff said 27-year-old Karta only ventured as far as a surrounding fence, still metres from members of the public.

Then she seemed to realise she was somewhere she shouldn't have been and returned to her enclosure.

Zoo curator Peter Whitehead said Karta was spotted by a member of the public and although she returned to her enclosure voluntarily, the zoo was evacuated as a safety precaution.

Whitehead said Karta was not aggressive and had not been close to members of the public.

- AAP