&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Majmun-Sami-spomenik-Beo-Zoo-Vrt.jpg) Statue of Sami at the Belgrade Zoo | |
| Other name(s) | Serbian Cyrillic: Сами |
|---|---|
| Species | chimpanzee |
| Sex | male |
| Born | 1979 Osijek Zoo and Aquarium, Osijek, Croatia |
| Died | September 11, 1992 |
| Resting place | Belgrade Zoo |
| Known for | escaping the Belgrade Zoo twice |
| Residence | Belgrade Zoo |
| Offspring | Zorica |
Sami (Serbian Cyrillic: Сами; 1979 – 11 September 1992) was a chimpanzee who was kept at the Belgrade Zoo between January 1988 and September 1992. Sami managed to escape from his enclosure twice within the span of several days in February 1988; he was recaptured both times.
During his first escape attempt, Sami headed for the Balkan Cinema in downtown Belgrade and then to Kalemegdan Park. Before he could reach Kalemegdan Park, Sami was cornered at Students Square. He was eventually convinced to return to his enclosure by zoo director Vuk Bojović, who took Sami by the hand and drove him back to the zoo in his car. Sami's second escape attempt, which occurred two days later, was the subject of intense media scrutiny. Over 4,000 Belgraders gathered outside the courtyard where Sami had been cornered and held up placards imploring Sami not to give himself up. Sami was eventually shot with a tranquilizer dart and taken back to the zoo.
The publicity sparked by Sami's two escape attempts prompted calls for infrastructure improvements to the Belgrade Zoo, leading to the construction of a new gate and several new enclosures. Sami died of natural causes in 1992 and was buried at the lawn next to the zoo's entrance. Four years later, a bronze statue of the chimpanzee was unveiled at the zoo.