After a long day of searching, a young clouded leopard has been found safely on zoo grounds. Dallas Zoo said they found Nova, a young clouded leopard, close to her original habitat at approximately 4:40 p.m. She was safely secured shortly after at 5:15 p.m.
According to the Dallas Zoo it does not seem like she is injured but she is currently being evaluated by the veterinary staff.
Her escape had been called "suspicious" and may have been an intentional act, said the Dallas Police Department during a second press briefing, Friday afternoon.
The Dallas Zoo was closed Friday as the Dallas PD searched for the clouded leopard named Nova.
The Zoo had been in a "Code Blue" situation, meaning a non-dangerous animal is out of its habitat since Friday morning. "One of our clouded leopards was not in its habitat when the team arrived this morning and is unaccounted for at this time" the Zoo said on social media.
During the first press conference held Friday, 'Nova' was described as a four-year-old smaller-sized wildcat at 25 lbs. Dallas crews said the leopard had escaped from a mesh-covered two-story enclosure.
The Dallas Police Department assisted with the search. The zoo said they were grateful for the police use of drone cameras that can help search higher grounds and trees.
It was determined a cutting tool was used to create an opening in the fencing surrounding the Clouded Leopard’s habitat.
Zoo personnel also found a second opening cut in the fence that encloses a breed of small monkeys, known as Langurs.
Fortunately, the Langur monkeys were too afraid to leave their habitat and did not escape while 'Nova the Clouded Leopard' was roaming zoo grounds.
Dallas police have determined a cutting tool was intentionally used, but it's unknown if the two incidents are related.
A criminal investigation is underway, but so far there are no suspects
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