According to zoo spokesperson Judy Palermo, the Indianapolis Zoo went into a temporary lockdown on Sunday morning after a cheetah managed to escape its main exhibit.
Around 9:40 a.m., a staff member noticed that a four-year-old male cheetah named Pounce had jumped into a grassy, fenced area next to the primary exhibit. Palermo explained that this grassy space is located along a walkway frequented by zoo visitors.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported to visitors, staff, or the cheetah during the incident. “We want to assure everyone that all of our guests and staff are safe,” the zoo posted on social media.
As a precaution, the zoo initiated a ‘code red,’ and visitors were moved to secure areas. The lockdown lasted approximately 30 minutes.
During that time, the zoo’s emergency team sedated Pounce with a dart while he remained in the grassy area. After being darted, the cheetah returned to the main exhibit.
Following the incident, the zoo temporarily removed all five cheetahs from public view while investigating. The animals are currently being housed in a private holding area.
Palermo added that Pounce and his brother, Zephyr, also from the San Diego Zoo, had only been at the Indianapolis Zoo for about a week.
The zoo also has two female cheetahs and an older male, who was not in the exhibit at the time of the escape.
Palermo noted that this was the first issue with the cheetah exhibit since it opened five years ago.
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