Snow Leopard On The Loose For 2 Hours At Zoo

SEATTLE

An unlocked door may be why a snow leopard escaped from its holding area at the Woodland Park Zoo for two hours early yesterday.

The 3-year-old leopard was recaptured after it was shot with a tranquilizer gun. It did not get beyond the zoo grounds and was reported recovering well, said Elaine Bowers, a spokeswoman for the zoo.

Bowers said night zoo keeper Joyce Ford discovered the male cat missing when she made her rounds around 3 a.m. yesterday. It was found nearby, tranquilized and returned.

The cat, Mikhail, is one of eight snow leopards at the zoo.