Go HERE for an updated story, including pictures from the zoo and a video interview with Joe DiVincenzo.
BNN News Service, which sends us information from police scanners throughout Essex County, shocked us a little while ago with a report that a leopard had gotten loose in the Turtle Back Zoo and that the zoo was on lockdown. Five minutes later, the report came through that the animal was contained. A call to the zoo was answered by this automatic message, “Welcome! Come join us for a fun-filled wild day.” Since nobody was reachable by phone, we’re heading out there now.
Here are the complete reports from BNN:
NJ| ESSEX| WEST ORANGE| *ANIMAL INCIDENT*| 560 NORTHFIELD AVE| ESSEX COUNTY SHERIFFS REQ M/A WITH SHOT GUNS FOR A LEOPARD THAT HAS GOTTEN LOOSE IN THE ZOO. ZOO IS ON LOCKDOWN| (C) BNN | BNNDESK/*NJN308/NJN984 | #328789
U/D NJ| ESSEX| WEST ORANGE| *ANIMAL INCIDENT*| 560 NORTHFIELD AVE| ZOO PERSONAL ARE REPORTING ANIMAL IS NOW CONTAINED| (C) BNN | BNNDESK/*NJN308/NJN984 | #328789