String of strange and sad incidents at Dallas Zoo raises questions
It’s been a stressful new year for the staff at the Dallas Zoo. First, Nova the clouded leopard was characteristically hard to find when she escaped her enclosure after it appeared to be tampered with. Then, another hole was found cut at the enclosure of a monkey. And, this week, a vulture with a long tenure at the zoo was found dead.
National attention swung to the Dallas Zoo on January 13 when law enforcement, including the Dallas Police SWAT team, responded with a “code blue” to reports that 4-year-old Nova went missing. She was luckily found close-by her enclosure after a long and exhaustive search and zoo officials said she was unharmed. Police also said they were investigating whether the clouded leopard was intentionally given the chance to escape after the mesh around her habitat was cut.
The next day, on January 14, zoo officials reportedly found that a similar cut in the mesh at the langur monkeys’ enclosure. Luckily, all the monkeys were accounted for.
According to the Dallas Morning News, the zoo found an endangered vulture dead in its enclosure the very next weekend. Pin the lappet-faced vulture had been at the zoo for 33 years and lived with three other birds. A zoo spokesperson said the animal’s death does “not appear to be from natural causes,” but the zoo could not comment further due to the police investigation. Dallas police confirmed to the publication that they are investigating the death as suspicious
“The animal care team is heartbroken over this tremendous loss,” spokesperson Kari Streiber said. “In the past week, we have added additional cameras throughout the zoo and increased on-site security patrols during the overnight hours. We will continue to implement and expand our safety and security measures to whatever level necessary to keep our animals and staff safe.”
Here are this week’s top stories:
The San Antonio City Council voted this week to authorize the use of eminent domain to force a downtown bar to vacate a piece of disputed property in Alamo Plaza.
Almost 50 people were arrested in a sex trafficking sting in Texas, including a high school football coach, youth pastor, and a director of operations at a hospital.
A major healthcare provider in Texas laid off a portion of its workforce. The move comes after reports that Blue Cross Blue Shield was rumored to split with the provider earlier this month.
Cibolo residents are in luck! H-E-B opened a new store this week and it even includes a superfan brand shop.
Randy Gonzalez, the dad in the father-and-son Texas TikTok duo the Enkyboys, died this week after a battle with cancer. Texans and celebrities alike have left touching tributes online.
The Royal Rumble is bearing down on San Antonio this weekend and the excitement is palpable. There are a number of professional wrestling events happening all weekend long.
