A leopard was captured on Monday after it strayed into a hotel complex in Bandung, a popular tourist city in Indonesia’s West Java province, sparking panic among guests.
The animal was spotted outside a guest room on the second floor of the hotel early Monday morning. Hotel staff quickly alerted emergency services, prompting a response from firefighters, who then contacted the local conservation agency.
“We used a tranquiliser, and at around 10 a.m. (0300 GMT) the leopard was taken out of the hotel,” said Agus Arianto, head of West Java’s conservation agency, in a statement to AFP.
In late August, a leopard had reportedly escaped from a zoo located just five kilometres (three miles) from the hotel. Authorities are now working to determine whether the animal captured on Monday is the same one.
“The leopard is currently regaining consciousness and has started to growl,” Arianto added. The animal will be taken to a conservation facility for further observation.
Indonesia has recorded several incidents in recent years involving escaped zoo animals, raising concerns about zoo safety and animal welfare standards.
In 2021, two Bengal tigers escaped from a zoo in Singkawang, West Kalimantan, after heavy rains created a hole in their enclosure. A 47-year-old zookeeper and several animals were found dead near the tiger cage. One tiger was shot dead, while the other was recaptured alive.
Indonesia’s zoos have long faced criticism from animal rights groups over allegations of poor conditions, inadequate safety measures, and animal mistreatment.
AFP
