Updated Jan. 13, 2023 at 5:44 p.m. CT
Nova, a 25-pound clouded leopard who went missing from the Dallas Zoo early Friday, has been found.
The zoo announced the animal was found near its enclosure around 4:40 p.m. CT, and she was secured shortly before 5:15.
We are thrilled to report we located clouded leopard Nova on-grounds at the Zoo this afternoon at approximated 4:40 p.m. She was located very near the original habitat, and teams were able to safely secure her just before 5:15 p.m.
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo)
Zoo officials closed the facility all day as staff members tried to locate the missing 25-pound cat.
Police opened a criminal investigation into Nova鈥檚 temporary disappearance after it appeared the animal鈥檚 mesh enclosure was intentionally cut.
The Dallas Police Department arrived at the zoo with a SWAT team to assist shortly after the animal was identified as missing early Friday.
By Friday afternoon, police said it appeared the fence to the leopard鈥檚 enclosure had been cut open.
"Investigators had come out and when they looked at the area where the leopard was 鈥� the clouded leopard 鈥� it was their belief and it is our belief that this was an intentional act,鈥� said Sgt. Warren Mitchell, a spokesperson for the Dallas Police Department. 鈥淎nd so we have started a criminal investigation."
