Fluffy Story

Keepers at the Durham Zoo noticed early this morning that their rare spotted leopard, known as “Fluffy,” was missing from her cage and could be anywhere within the zoo or downtown, zoo experts reported.
The zoo was opened at 7:30 this morning as usual, but only for zoo staff to find Fluffy missing from her cage. Everything seemed normal; the cage was shut and the fence was unbroken, yet the leopard was missing.
Fluffy is a 10-year-old Romanian spotted leopard, a species that is known to be carnivorous and driven to the brink of extinction because of their appetite for young children.
The last time anyone saw Fluffy was last night (Tuesday) around 9 p.m. when the zoo was closed.
Gerry Durrell, the director of the zoo, said that at that time, everything seemed normal.
“We have no idea what time Fluffy escaped or where she went,” Durrell said. “When we opened the zoo at 7:30 this morning and began feeding the animals we immediately noticed Fluffy was missing. We are searching the grounds of the zoo but so far we haven’t a clue.”
Durrell added that at this point it is possible for the cat to be anywhere around Durham.
Kitty Smith, the zoo’s chief biologist, said that Fluffy was a gift to the city zoo from Durham’s sister city in Romania, Durhamvoska. There are only five currently in existence, while Fluffy is the only remaining female of the species.
“It is a priceless animal, and has been at the zoo for five years,” Smith said. “Its cage is alarmed, but no alarms were sounded during the night.”
Smith told reporters that the leopard is black with white spots, weighs 146 pounds and can run up to 60 mph.
“Fluffy is a wonderful, warm, gentle cat who has never hurt anyone,” Smith said. “But if these cats are cornered – or encountered on a dark night – their defense is to kill, and kill quickly.”
The zoo urges anyone who encounters Fluffy to get slowly to the ground and lay still, as the cat may do a lot of licking and sniffing, but as long as she doesn’t sense fear she’s not likely to attack.
Durham Police Chief William Blair said that the police department will do everything in their power, and search every inch of the zoo, to recover the missing cat.
“If possible, Fluffy will be shot with a tranquilizer gun,” Blair said. “But if necessary, we will shoot to kill. If we can’t find her in the zoo, we will begin searching the neighborhood, moving farther and farther away from the zoo.”
He added that they are concerned because of the residential neighborhood in Durham with an elementary school nearby. The goal of the police is to find Fluffy before 3 p.m. when school lets out.
Both the zoo and Durham police have asked the New Hampshire State Police and the state wildlife department to aid in the search. The National Guard will also be supplying five helicopters with infrared sensors to help find Fluffy.