The Latest: Mesh opening allowed Utah leopard to escape

SALT LAKE CITY – The Latest on a leopard that escaped at a Salt Lake City zoo (all times local):

12:20 p.m.

Salt Lake City zoo officials say a leopard escaped by climbing through a small opening in the steel-grade mesh on top of her enclosure.

Hogle Zoo spokeswoman Erica Hansen said Wednesday that officials found a trail of leopard hair around the 6-inch-by-6-inch opening built into the enclosure’s mesh.

The rare animal escaped Tuesday morning and was found snoozing on an outdoor beam about 2 feet from the exhibit.

The zoo plans to move the 4-year-old female to a different enclosure that has smaller openings in its mesh.

Hansen says the animal weighs about 60 pounds and is one of the smallest leopards the zoo has had in the exhibit.

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9:40 a.m.

A leopard that was tranquilized after it got loose at a Salt Lake City zoo is awake and doing well.

Hogle Zoo spokeswoman Erica Hansen said Wednesday that staff members tested the Amur leopard’s blood and have determined that it is in good health.

The rare animal escaped from an enclosure Tuesday morning and was found snoozing on the outdoor beam about 2 feet from the exhibit.

Officials are investigating how the leopard managed to escape the tall steel-grade mesh that surrounds the top and sides of its enclosure.

It’s not clear how long it was out, but zoo staff saw the leopard inside the enclosure at about 7 a.m. and the escape was reported about two and half hours later.

Zoo staff says no one was hurt.