Escaped ape triggers Melb zoo lockdown

An escaped orangutan has triggered a lockdown at Melbourne zoo.

An escaped orangutan who triggered a lockdown at Melbourne zoo, has been safely tranquillised. (AAP)

An orangutan has escaped its enclosure at Melbourne Zoo, which is in lockdown.

The ape made it into a zoo public area on Monday afternoon and has since been cornered by zoo keepers.

All visitors at the zoo have been evacuated to safe areas.

The ape is an 11-year-old male Sumatran orangutan, named Malu.

He was surrounded by vets and zoo staff and then tranquilised.

"At no time were visitors or staff in danger," a Melbourne Zoo spokesperson said.

"Melbourne Zoo staff acted quickly to lockdown the zoo and all visitors have been safely ushered into secure areas."