Dallas police and Dallas Zoo officials announced at a news conference Friday that they believe the escape of a clouded leopard from its exhibit was an intentional act.
Gregg Hudson, president and CEO of the Dallas Zoo, explained that on Friday morning, zoo staff followed their daily protocols and counted and checked out the zoo’s exhibits. At that moment, they discovered that Nova, a 4-year-old clouded leopard, was missing from her enclosure.
“We found a suspicious opening in the wall of the habitat at the front of the exhibit,” Hudson explained. “It was clear that this opening was not a habitat failure, it was not a display failure, and it was not keeper error.”
A clouded leopard cub runs at the Mulhouse zoo in eastern France on August 28, 2020.
(Photo by Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty Images)
CLOUDED LEOPARD ESCAPE AT DALLAS ZOO, MASS SEARCH UNDERGOING
Dallas Police Public Information Officer Warren Mitchell agreed with Hudson’s assessment of the situation.
“We believe this was an intentional act, so we have launched a criminal investigation,” Mitchell explained. “The fence she escaped from was intentionally cut down.”
The massive search for Nova continues. Hudson explained that the leopard is likely still on the property, but finding it will be a challenge.
The Dallas Zoo is closed as officials search for an escaped clouded leopard, Friday, January 13, 2023.
(KDFW)
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“These are very elusive animals. They live in dense forests in the trees, so it’s a very difficult animal to try to find,” Hudson said.
Mitchell explained that police have also deployed drones to assist in the search.
“We have sophisticated technology with our drones to be able to calibrate that particular cat’s heat signature, so we’ve been looking high and low. We have technology, but right now it’s [been] without success,” Mitchell explained.
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If Nova does make it off zoo grounds, the public is urged to send suggestions and photos to the zoo at 469-554-7501, info@dallaszoo.com or On twitter. No one should try to catch the leopard by himself.
