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'Curious' baboon meddles with power station wiring and cuts entire town's electricity supply

Animal suffers mild electric shock after causing blackout in Livingstone near Victoria Falls in Zambia but sabotage not believed to be politically motivated

Tuesday 18 July 2017 07:16 BST
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A baboon fleeing would-be captors
A baboon fleeing would-be captors (Howard Burditt/Reuters)

A baboon in Zambia has interfered with machinery at a power station in a tourist town near Victoria Falls, knocking out power to tens of thousands of people for several hours.

State broadcaster ZNBC says the blackout affected residents in Livingstone and surrounding areas on Sunday and reports that it was caused by an accident involving "a curious animal."

ZNBC quotes power utility spokesman Henry Kapata as saying the baboon survived an electric shock and has been handed over to wildlife officials for care.

People on social media joked about possible sabotage by the baboon, recalling that President Edgar Lungu has announced extra police powers to deal with alleged security challenges amid increasing political tension.

One Twitter user says the baboon is "not believed to be politically inclined."

Associated Press

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