Nova the clouded leopard. Courtesy of the Dallas Zoo.
Update as of 5:45 p.m. 1/13/2023
The Dallas Zoo announced that officials found and secured Nova the missing clouded leopard Friday afternoon.
Nova was spotted near her original habitat around 4:30 p.m., and teams secured her soon after she was found. The Zoo announced Nova is being evaluated by veterinary staff, but does not appear to be injured.
Keeper failure and habitat failure did not contribute to the escape of the clouded leopard, zoo officials said in a press briefing this afternoon. Instead, police believe intentional tampering lead to the escape of clouded leopard Nova, and a criminal investigation has been launched.
DPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Warren Mitchell said in a press conference this afternoon that the mesh fencing surrounding the clouded leopard enclosure had a “suspicious opening” in it.
“Investigators had come out and when they looked at the area where the clouded leopard was, it was their belief and it is our belief that this was an intentional act,” Mitchell said.
Nova was discovered as missing this morning when zoo employees arrived at work. A code blue was issued, indicating the escape of a non-dangerous animal, and Dallas police and SWAT officials responded.
“When we initially responded to the location on a report of a missing clouded leopard, we first dispatched our SWAT officers out here… not clearly understanding what a clouded leopard was. We were thinking perhaps a big cat,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell did not say whether or not police believe Nova was taken, and said the zoo is continuing to operate under the assumption that she is located on zoo property.
In an earlier press conference, Harrison Edell, the zoo’s vice president for animal care and conservation, stated that Nova is likely to hide in the trees and that infrared drones are being used to try to locate the animal.
Edell emphasized that Nova is around 25 pounds and does not pose a danger to the public.
