The Dallas Zoo. Photo by Danny Fulgencio
This story was updated at 11:50 a.m. 1/13/2023 to reflect new information from a Zoo press conference and at 3:00 p.m. to reflect new information from DISD.
The Dallas Zoo announced on Twitter that the park will be closed today due to a “code blue” situation, which indicates a non-dangerous animal is out of its habitat.
The Zoo said that when staff members arrived this morning, a clouded leopard named Nova was missing from its enclosure.
Harrison Edell, executive Vice President of animal care and conservation, stated in a Friday morning media update that zoo officials believe Nova escaped the habitat using a tear in the enclosure mesh.
“Given the nature of these animals, we believe the animal is still on grounds and hiding,” the zoo said in a Tweet.
Nova the clouded leopard. Courtesy of the Dallas Zoo.
Dallas Police are on site, the Zoo says, and helicopters and drones are being used in the search. Edell said it is believed the leopard is hiding in the trees, and infrared drones are being used to help locate the animal.
According to the Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, the clouded leopard can weigh between 25-50 pounds, and bridges the gap between small cat and big cat species.
“The cat we are looking for is about 20, 25 pounds. She does not pose a danger to humans,” Edell said. “If you happen to see a cat that is bigger than a house cat but smaller than a bobcat, we would love a heads up.”
According to a Dallas ISD spokesperson, several schools near the Zoo were instructed to remain inside for the day due to Nova being unaccounted for.
Those schools were Townview High School, Hector P. Garcia Middle School, Bowie Elementary, Bishop Arts STEAM Academy, Botello Elementary and N. W. Harllee Early Childhood Center.
The spokesperson said the schools were not placed under lockdown, but remained indoors to ensure students and teachers remained safe.
