Spider Monkey Dead After Jaguar Escapes Enclosure at Abilene Zoo

A jaguar escaped from its enclosure Monday at the Abilene Zoo and attacked a spider monkey before it was tranquilized. Staff discovered Estrella, a 2-year-old jaguar, missing about 8:10 a.m. Monday morning, before the zoo opened, Executive Director Bill Gersonde said in a prepared statement. Zoo staff found the big cat perched atop the adjacent exhibit that housed spider monkeys. One of the monkeys, a 19-year-old male named Ba, was seriously injured and had to be euthanized. A escaped animal code was called in and a zoo veterinarian darted Estrella about nine minutes after staff noticed she had gotten out. Estrella was placed in a holding pen at about 8:50 a.m. and was recovering from the anesthesia, Gersonde said. Her sister Luna was secured in a holding area during the escape. Gersonde said the doors to the jaguar exhibit and holding area were secure, and the zoo is investigating how the animal escaped.   Continue reading...