“If you happen to see a cat that’s bigger than a domestic cat and smaller than a lynx, let us know,” Texas Zoo’s Harrison Edell said Friday. “We’re taking every lead we can get.”
Meanwhile, zoo staff spend “a lot of time with binoculars” looking out for the big cat, Edell explains. The Nova clouded leopard poses “no danger” to human life, as it weighs only ten kilograms. Still, Edell warned bystanders not to try to catch the big cat themselves. After all, Nova has claws and sharp teeth and is “still a wild animal”.
Four-year-old Nova, who lives at the Dallas Zoo with her sister Luna, escaped through a hole in the fence of their enclosure. The zoo was closed for the search. Police joined the “manhunt” using drones with infrared cameras.
After a few hours, Nova was found and recaptured. As the zoo had guessed, she hadn’t strayed far from her enclosure. The animal apparently made it through its adventure unscathed.
In the wild, clouded leopards can be found in the Himalayas and certain areas of southeastern China.
(SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
