A bighorn sheep at New York's Buffalo Zoo had a brief taste of freedom when he escaped from his habitat while the facility was closed to the public.

June 18 (UPI) -- A bighorn sheep at New York's Buffalo Zoo had a brief taste of freedom when he escaped from his habitat while the facility was closed to the public.

Zoo officials confirmed the 11-year-old sheep, named Colby, escaped from his enclosure Wednesday morning while keepers were working to move him to a new habitat.

Staff followed established protocols for the situation and Colby was contained and transferred to his new habitat. Officials said the sheep never left zoo grounds, and the incident occurred before the zoo opened for the day.

"Our animal care and veterinary teams prepare diligently for these scenarios, responding in an efficient and professional manner. We are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the situation. The Zoo is now open and operating as normal," the zoo said in a statement provided to WKBW-TV.

The zoo's bighorn sheep are currently being housed in a temporary habitat in the Destination Dinosaur Trail area while their main enclosure undergoes major renovations.