Cut Found in Dallas Zoo Monkey Habitat After Leopard Escape

A cut in the fencing of a second animal habitat was discovered at the Dallas Zoo over the weekend after staffers and police spent Friday looking for a clouded leopard who escaped an enclosure that had also been intentionally damaged.

According to officials, the second cut fence was found at a habitat that enclosed langurs, a breed of monkey.

All of the langurs were still inside their habitat and did not appear to be harmed or in any danger. A criminal mischief offense report was made and Dallas Police are investigating the incident, police said.

The cut was found after police discovered a cut in the fencing at the clouded leopard habitat, leading to one of the zoo's clouded leopards, Nova, escaping on Friday.

Get DFW local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC DFW newsletters.

Dallas Police said a further investigation determined a cutting tool was intentionally used to cut open the fencing.

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. pic.twitter.com/XucvBrQO4V
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo) January 13, 2023

Nova was found on the zoo grounds Friday afternoon near her original habitat. No one was injured and initial indications showed Nova was unharmed, the Dallas Zoo said. She has since returned to her exhibit.