Rare spotted leopard cannot be found in Durham Zoo
By Cady Kolnaski
DURHAM - Confusion and contradiction surrounded the Durham Zoo this morning when Fluffy, a rare spotted leopard, could not be found and zoo officials and police tried to explain what was going on to visitors and local residents.
Fluffy, a 10-year-old, 146-pound Romanian spotted leopard was reported missing by a visitor to the zoo at 7:30 a.m.
The zoo was closed by nine a.m. to allow for searches to take place. Police and zoo employees were dashing frantically around the zoo, some carrying high-powered rifles and others clutching their holstered pistols, searching everywhere for the spotted leopard.
James Petronkis, a resident of Newmarket and daily visitor to the zoo, said when he arrived at Fluffy’s cage he knew something was wrong. “She usually draws the straw up into a nest when she sleeps, but there was no nest – there wasn’t even any straw.”
He further explained that he was dismissed by a guard when he expressed his concern, causing him to pull the fire alarm to get the attention of the directors and employees.
Petronkis was told she was in her “little house” and to not worry. Thirty minutes later, when Fluffy still hadn’t made an appearance, employees checked the house and found that Fluffy was not there.
“All hell broke loose,” Petronkis commented.
Gerry Durrell, the director of the zoo, explained during a press conference this morning that they were doing everything possible to find Fluffy and bring her back. “We love that cat,” he said. “We don’t want to lose her.”
He explained that everything in her cage seemed normal, adding that “the door was shut and did not appear to have been tampered with.”
Employees were searching the grounds of the zoo, but Police Chief William Blair stated that if they could not find her in the zoo, they would begin searching the neighborhood.
“We are concerned because this is a residential neighborhood with an elementary school and we don’t want Fluffy wandering around after the kids get out of school,” Blair explained.
According to Kitty Smith, the zoo’s chief biologist, the animal is “extremely dangerous,” adding that these leopards were on the brink of extinction in Romania “because of their appetite for young children.”
Officials are hoping to find the leopard before three p.m. or else “it could be a very messy night,” according to Blair.
Blair has asked the New Hampshire State Police and the state wildlife department to aid in the search for the missing animal. Officials will search every inch of the zoo before moving outward, farther and farther away from the zoo until she is found.
The National Guard is supplying five helicopters with infrared sensors to help locate her.
“We’re gonna find this cat if it kills us,” Blair added before leaving to aid in the search.
No comments:
Post a Comment