Cut in monkey habitat after Dallas Zoo leopard escape

DALLAS (AP) — Police investigating after a clouded leopard escaped her enclosure at the Dallas Zoo say a cutting tool was used to intentionally make an opening in the fence of the small cat’s habitat, and a similar cut was found at a habitat for small monkeys.

Dallas police stated Saturday night that they didn’t know if the incidents were connected. The langur monkeys were not able to escape and they did not appear to have been hurt.

On Friday, Nova, a clouded leopard by the name of Nova, was found missing from her natural habitat by arriving zoo staff. The search took place over the course of a day, and the zoo was closed for the remainder of the day while police and staff searched the 40-hectare (100-acre) grounds. By late afternoon, she had been found close to her habitat.

Nova was not injured after it was established. the zoo said that she spent Saturday with her sister, Luna, in their habitat, “perched up on a high branch while oh-so-many guests stopped by to wish her well.”

Officials from the zoo and police said that they had reviewed surveillance footage, but could not reveal what it revealed or whether any suspects were present.

There have been times when animals have escaped the Dallas Zoo’s enclosures. One of the most memorable was Jabari, who weighed in at 340 lbs (154 kilograms) jumped over a wall and went on a 40-minute rampage The animal was attacked by three people, before being shot and killed by police.