Fluffy

Pandemonium erupted at the Durham Zoo this morning when Fluffy, a spotted leopard, was reported missing from her cage at 9:30 a.m. and the zoo was the evacuated with police forcibly removing some guests. 

Police and zoo workers, some carrying high-powered rifles and pistols, were frantically searching the premises for the 10-year-old Romanian spotted leopard, which has been described as “extremely dangerous” by the zoo’s chief zoologist, Kitty Smith.

“We have no idea what time Fluffy escaped or where she went,” said Gerry Durrell, the director of the zoo.  “We are searching the grounds of the zoo, but so far we haven’t a clue.”

Durrell added that there is the possibility that Fluffy could have even escaped the premises and “could be walking around Durham at this point.”

Police Chief William Blair said that his officers will continue their search around the zoo, but if they can’t find her there by 11 a.m, they will start their search of the surrounding neighborhood.

“We are concerned because this is a residential neighborhood with an elementary school,” Blair said.  “We have got to find her by 2 p.m.  If we don’t, it could be a very messy night.”

Local Durham schools just announced that they are in lock down to keep their students safe.

Blair added that they have asked the New Hampshire State Police and the state Wildlife Department to help with the search, and the National Guard will provide five helicopters with infrared sensors.

“If possible, Fluffy will be shot with a tranquilizer gun,” Blair said.  “But, if necessary, we will shoot to kill.”

Blair is especially concerned about the safety of citizens due to Fluffy’s appetite.  According to Smith, Romanian spotted leopards, like Fluffy, are known for eating children under 8 years old. 

She described Fluffy's coloring to be black with white spots.  She weighs 146 pounds and has the ability to run 60 miles per hour.

James Petronkis, 36, a Durham citizen who visits Fluffy daily, said he was the one who first noticed that Fluffy was missing. 

“Everything seemed normal, until I got to the cage,” Petronkis said. “Then I knew something was wrong right away.  Fluffy usually draws the straw up into a nest when she sleeps, but there was no nest – there wasn’t even any straw.”

After trying to alert a zoo guard about what he had seen without success, Petronkis said he pulled the fire alarm to alert the zoo staff. 

Petronkis finally got zoo staff to check the cage, and then “all hell broke loose.”

“Police cars came from every direction and within minutes they were roughly pushing visitors to exits,” Petronkis said.

"Everything about [Fluffy's] cage seemed normal," Durrell said. "The door was shut and did not appear to have been tampered with. The fencing was unbroken.”

Durrell reported that the last time they had seen Fluffy in her cage was at 9 p.m. the night before and "at that time everything seemed normal."

Smith added that Fluffy’s cage was armed, “but no alarms sounded during the night.” 

Despite how dangerous Fluffy could possibly be to the surrounding area, Durrell emphasized that they just want her back.

"We love that cat," Durrell said, while tearing up.  "We don't want to lose her."