A chimpanzee scaled a wall and escaped from its exhibit today at the Honolulu Zoo.

About noon, the chimpanzee, one of eight in the exhibit, was able to get a finger hold and climb to the top of the wall separating the chimpanzee and aviary exhibits, said city spokesman Andrew Pereira.

The chimp could have gone into the walkthrough aviary where it would have come into contact with zoo visitors, but instead jumped off the wall into the chimp holding area, adjacent to the chimpanzee exhibit, Pereira said. The chimp did not go into a public space, Pereira said.

The chimp was contained in the holding area and placed back into its pen within 10 minutes of leaving the exhibit.

The animal keepers ushered the public away from the surrounding area until the chimpanzee was put into its pen.

All the chimpanzees will be held in their pens until zoo staff can assess the exhibit wall, Pereira said.

Details on the chimp that escaped were not immediately available.