First, a clouded leopard escaped due to a deliberate cut in its enclosure. Fortunately, it was captured without harm to itself or any people.
A similar cut was found days later in the langur monkey enclosure, fortunately no monkeys escaped.
Now a lappet-faced vulture has died in its enclosure with a suspicious wound.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has been called in to takeover the investigation and so this is now a Federal matter. Lappet-faced vultures are currently listed as endangered in the wild and are close to moving to critically endangered. They are endemic to all of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
The Dallas Zoo has admitted that the probability is high that it is an inside job. Any individual involved faces a potential civil penalty of $25,000, a criminal penalty of $50,000 and up to one year in Federal prison.
In the meantime, security has been doubled and additional cameras are being installed around the zoo.
