SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 8, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Hogle Zoo officials have explained how Zeya the Amur leopard managed to escape from her enclosure Tuesday morning — and the answer might be surprising.
Zeya apparently climbed up the mesh fencing that surrounds her enclosure and squeezed through one of the 6-inch by 6-inch holes at the top, said Erica Hansen, manager of community relations for the zoo.
Hansen said the mesh itself was not compromised, but zoo officials found a trail of hair and a quantity of Zeya’s fur on the mesh, which led to the conclusion about how she escaped.
Hansen said Zeya is the zoo’s most petite cat at around 60 pounds, which is why she was able to squeeze through such a small hole.
Zeya, who is 4, was reported missing from her enclosed area at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Hansen said somebody spotted Zeya lying on a beam about 15 feet in the air in the Asian Highlands area, just a few feet from her own enclosure. Because Zeya was in a public space, guests were ushered into nearby buildings for safety, and zoo staff members by 10 a.m. had cornered the cat.
Zeya was anesthetized with a dart by the veterinary staff, safely put into a crate, and transported to the back holding area.
“Zoo staff responded quickly and very calmly, and ushered guests and other staff into the closest indoor building,” Hansen said. “Some were in the gift shop, some were in the bistro eatery, some were down with me in the Rocky Shores building, and that’s per our safety protocol.
“We do drills for this throughout the year, for all kinds of animal escapes, whether it be a zebra or a leopard, we drill for those things.”
Hansen said all guests and staff members were safely accounted for inside buildings.
“The emergency response team at that time had their sights on the animal, they knew where she was,” Hansen added. “The plan is always to tranquilize the animal first if you can, if the situation allows, so our veterinary staff anesthetized the animal. She received a dart.
“Zeya was spotted on a high beam in the Asian Highlands area, and just never showed signs of aggression. She was just calmly sleeping. Even when she was darted, she just kind of drowsily went back to sleep.”
Hansen said Zeya woke up Tuesday afternoon and is doing well, though she’s still a little drowsy. “She’s drinking and eating a bit, which is a good sign,” said Hansen.
The Asian Highlands area opened in 2006 after the old feline building was renovated. It depicts a village with various locations designed for viewing big cats, including Amur tigers and leopards, snow leopards, Siberian lynx and pallas’ cats.
Hansen said all the cats will be staying at the zoo, and all are out for visitors to see Wednesday. She said Zeya will not be kept in the enclosure she escaped from until zoo officials can come up with a permanent solution. She said there are other enclosures that only have 3-inch by 3-inch holes at the top, and Zeya will be housed there while officials re-study the exhibit.
The Hogle Zoo website said Zeya was born May 22, 2012 at the Wildlife Heritage Foundation and arrived at the zoo in October of 2015.
Amur leopards can reach speeds of 36 miles per hour for short distances and leap 19 feet horizontally and 10 feet vertically.
