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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 28, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah’s Hogle Zoo remains open Sunday afternoon while staff searches for a cat missing from his enclosure — but visitors shouldn’t worry too much, as he weighs only 8 pounds.
Mushu, a 10 month-old male, was found to be missing by his keepers Sunday morning, according to a news release from Hogle Zoo’s Community Relations Coordinator Erica Hansen. Mushu is not dangerous, the news release added.
Keepers checked for Mushu around 8 a.m., and discovered he was missing from the outside habitat, the news release said.
Keepers noted small paw prints near Mushu’s enclosure. Officials believe he may have climbed out past the anti-climb barriers, through the top mesh. There were no breaches in the perimeter mesh upon closer inspection.
“Pallas’ cats are extremely elusive and tend to hunker down making them difficult to spot,” the news release said. “Keepers note that Mushu is a very shy and reserved cat.”
Animals typically return to familiar surroundings, especially at meal time, the news release added.
“Pallas’ Cats are crepuscular, meaning they hunt at sunrise and sunset and sleep during the daylight,” it goes on. “The Zoo is fully staffed and equipped with live box traps, including infrared camera traps and Forward Looking Infrared thermal imaging cameras.”
Keepers are also planting familiar scents, and have food ready.
The exhibit will remain closed pending a more thorough investigation, and the other Asian Highlands mesh enclosures were also re-examined this morning as a precaution.
Mushu was born at Hogle Zoo March 28, 2017 and has four siblings. The litter of cats is considered full-grown and Mushu had begun showing signs of aggression towards his brother, Pabu. This is common in cats of this age as Pallas’ Cats are solitary in the wild. Keepers separated the pair two days ago. Saturday was Mushu’s second day in the enclosure by himself.
Hogle Zoo has exhibited Pallas’ Cats since the opening of Asian Highlands in 2006. Pallas’ Cats live in rocky, mountainous regions of Central Asia, usually above 10,000 feet.
