Breaking news story

Police and zoo workers dash frantically about. Some carrying high-powered guns, others tranquilizers. They are looking everywhere- searching through trash cans, around buildings, in trees, inside concession stands and everywhere alike for a spotted 10-year-old Romanian leopard that has escaped from its cage in the Durham Zoo between 9 p.m. last night and 9:30 a.m. this morning.

The zoo has just been closed as visitors stream out of the front gate. Kids are crying, grown-ups are scowling. Paranoia is in the air. The Durham Zoo, being located in a residential neighborhood with an elementary school and many daycare centers, has many people on alert for a possible encounter with an “extremely dangerous” leopard.

Gerry Durrel, the director of the zoo reports that Fluffy, the leopard that has escaped from her cage was last seen in her cage when the zoo was closed at 9 p.m. last night. It was not until 9:30 this morning that the zookeepers noticed Fluffy was missing from her cage while making rounds of feeding animals.

“Everything about her cage seemed normal,” Durrel said. “The door was shut and did not appear to have been tampered with. The fencing was unbroken. Fluffy was last seen last night in her cage, and at that time everything seemed normal.”

At this point, Durell and other officials are doing everything they can to find and bring her back.

“We have no iudea what time Fluffy escaped or where she went,” Durrel said. “We love that cat, and we don’t want to lose her.”

Kitty Smith, the zoo’s chief zoologist informs reporters that the cage is alarmed, but no alarms sounded during the night, she says.

Smith describes Fluufy has a black with white spots Romanian leopard, weighing 146 pounds, can run 60 miles an hour, and is a carnivore. If one might encounter this leopard, Smith informs that person to remain calm and still.

“We urge anyone who encounters Fluffy to get slowly to the ground, go limp, and lay still,” Smith said. “Avoid eye contact at all costs. Fluffy may then do a lot of sniffing and licking, but unless she senses fear she’s not likely to react violently.”

Durham Police Chief William Blair has reportedly announced a lock down for all schools in the area. The outline of the search for Fluffy will be begin in the zoo, and work its way in various neighborhoods farther from the original scene. Police forces will react promptly if the leopard shows any sign of danger to anyone.

“If possible, Fluffy will be shot with a tranquilizer gun,” Blair said. “But, if necessary, we will shoot to kill.”