Baboon causes power cut in Zambian tourist town

A baboon on Sunday plunged a Zambian tourist town, near Victoria Falls into darkness after tampering with equipment at a hydro-electric power station, leaving tens of thousands of people without power for several hours, the state electricity company said on Monday.

The 108 megawatt power station in Livingstone, a hub for tourists visiting nearby Victoria Falls, is close to a national park but it is rare for animals to wander into the plant reports Reuters.

Zesco Ltd, which owns the power station, said the baboon disturbed a high voltage transformer leaving about 40,000 customers without electricity for five hours.

The baboon suffered an electric shock and was taken to wildlife officers for treatment, said Zesco spokesman Henry Kapata, adding that the animal was fortunate to survive has been handed over to wildlife officials for care.