ST. PAUL — Officials at St. Paul’s Como Zoo say three gorillas briefly escaped their main enclosure but no people or animals were ever at risk.

Shortly before 10 a.m. Thursday, three male gorillas slipped through an unsecured door behind their habitat and left their indoor enclosure. Two of the gorillas — Sampson and Jabir — were returned to their habitat shortly after 10 a.m.

The third gorilla, Virgil, kept exploring the inside secured area until he moved into the habitat at 10:40 a.m.

Reports said officials say the gorillas were always enclosed within gorilla-proof barriers.

The zoo does not open to the public until 10 a.m., but officials say those on zoo grounds were sent to safe areas until all the gorillas were returned to their habitat.