The most prestigious law school admissions discussion board in the world.
|
 |
 
|
A 3 year old JAGUAR escaped from his enclosure & killed 5 alpacas/1 emu/2 foxes
| flesh motley church | 07/16/18 |
Poast new message in this thread
Date: July 16th, 2018 11:26 AM Author: flesh motley church A young male jaguar at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans slipped out of its enclosure in the dark of night and went on a territorial killing rampage, attacking alpacas and foxes and an emu trapped in their own habitats before veterinarians armed with tranquilizers managed to sedate it.
The big cat — a 3-year-old named Valerio — was first reported missing at 7:20 a.m. Saturday, before the zoo opened, officials said. By 8:15 a.m., the jaguar had been located, tranquilized and returned to its enclosure by veterinarians.
But by then, the carnage was already considerable: Four alpacas, a fox and the emu were dead, and several other animals were injured, zoo officials said Saturday. On Sunday, zoo officials raised the death toll to eight, announcing that a fifth alpaca and a second fox had died.
No humans were injured by the jaguar, although the circumstances of the escape sparked worry at what might have been: The “jaguar jungle” is also home to a children’s play area.
Zoo officials insisted at a news conference Saturday that the facility was safe for the general public, even though they wouldn’t say how the apex predator managed to escape and either kill or injure every alpaca on zoo property.
“An investigation is underway and we will release information when available,” the zoo said Sunday afternoon. “Initial findings concluded keeper error was not a factor in this incident.”
The New Orleans Advocate reported that the roof over the jaguar enclosure had been compromised.
In addition to the slain animals, another injured fox was being cared for. “Rusty fared well overnight; he will continue to be monitored and treated by expert animal care professionals,” the zoo said Sunday morning.
Zoo officials said they planed to sedate Valerio, the jaguar, on Sunday, to examine him “for any injuries sustained during his time outside of the exhibit.”
The jaguar did not appear to be eating the animals it went after but rather was engaged in a territorial display, said Kyle Burks, the zoo’s vice president and managing director. The animals it pounced on — a red fox named Maggie Mae; Elmo the emu; and the four alpacas, named Alexandria, Micia, Noel and Lil Melody, according to the Advocate — in their own enclosures were unable to escape.
The zoo was closed Saturday as officials tried to discover how the feline escaped. Grief counselors were also brought in for traumatized staff. The zoo reopened Sunday.
But the incident was certain to raise questions about the dangers of caging apex predators that have evolved to hunt and kill and will quickly pounce on prey animals — or humans — if safeguards break down.
|