Los Angeles Zoo worker rescued after falling into gorilla enclosure

LOS ANGELES -- An employee at the Los Angeles Zoo was rescued after falling into the gorilla enclosure on Thursday, fire officials said.

The incident was reported around 8:30 a.m. Los Angeles time. Fire officials said the animals were secured and a search-and-rescue team assessed the situation.

The employee was safely extricated from the enclosure shortly before 9 a.m. and was transported to an area hospital in fair condition with a possibly fractured femur.

LAFD Public Service Officer Margaret Stewart said the protocol in this type of incident is to transport the patient to a trauma center since it is considered a "long fall," defined as greater than 20 feet.

It is unknown how the fall occurred.