Police are currently searching for vandals who cut the locks and fencing of exhibits at a zoo in New Mexico, allowing four animals to escape before they were found nearby.
Police in Roswell, New Mexico, said a visitor first noticed the fencing at the red-tailed hawk exhibit cut at the Spring River Park and Zoo on Sunday and reported it to them. The zoo was evacuated and staff discovered about the other vandalized enclosures, which freed a raccoon, two raccoon-like coatimundis, and a bobcat.
Luckily, the animals were all found within 20 minutes in non-public zookeeper areas, according to officials.
Authorities said they are glad that animals did not wander off to unfamiliar places and stayed in their “comfort zones.” However, they warn that the act of vandalism could have put both people and animals in great danger.
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