SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 29, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Hogle Zoo’s once-missing Pallas’ cat, Mushu, has been found.
Hogle Zoo’s Community Relations Coordinator Erica Hansen announced Monday night that the 10-month-old cat was found in a small construction area right next to Asian Highlands.
In a news release, Hansen called the spot, “perfect for a Pallas’ Cat. It was the perfect hiding spot — a small, confined area.”
Mushu, an 8-pound male, was missing from his enclosure Sunday when keepers went to check on him at about 8 a.m.
They 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.
The zoo remained open Sunday, as there was never any danger to the public. Although Pallas’ cats are not domestic animals, they’re about the size of a regular house cat and prefer to stay secluded during the day, going out at night to find food.
“Pallas’ cats are extremely elusive and tend to hunker down, making them difficult to spot,” an earlier news release said. “Keepers note that Mushu is a very shy and reserved cat.”
Live traps were set out, and zoo staff checked places the small cat might likely hide.
Monday night’s news release said, “Night vision camera footage from Sunday night helped animal care staff strategize tonight’s operation. Keepers went out for their check of the live traps and found him at 7 pm. He was lured in by the mice left inside the trap.”
The zoo was fully staffed and prepared to monitor Mushu throughout the night, according to the release.
Mushu “looks great and appears to be in great health after his adventure,” it says, adding that the cat is currently in quarantine.
“Since Mushu has been out of his enclosure, he’ll need a clean bill of health from veterinary staff before he can go back on exhibit,” Hansen said in the release.
“Hogle Zoo also needs time to complete a full investigation of Mushu’s exhibit before a cat is placed back inside.”
