Escaped clouded leopard recaptured after 14 hours

By Avila Geraldine - August 24, 2020 @ 9:59am

PENAMPANG: An animal escape is every zookeeper's nightmare, especially the carnivorous and dangerous kind.

On Sunday, the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, near here, which is under the management of Sabah Wildlife Department, moved into full alert after an endangered Sunda clouded leopard escaped from its enclosure at 6.15am.

The department immediately launched a search and capture operation, where park rangers spotted the mammal hiding under heavy foliage within the park's compound at 7.30am.

They however were unable to recapture it.

Worried that the leopard would escape into neighbouring villages, the department issued notices to three villages; Kampung Lok Kawi Baru, Kampung Tombovo, and Kamping Maang on the incident.

The notice urged villagers to be on alert as well and to immediately contact park personnel if they encounter the animal.

Fortunately, the park rangers managed to track and recapture the clouded leopard at 8.45pm.

State wildlife director Augustine Tuuga said fortunately, the leopard was roaming within the compound and park rangers had to use tranquilizers to secure it.

He noted that the clouded leaopard had somehow managed to break out of its enclosure fencing.