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Dartmoor Zoo: Lynx Missing From U.K. Zoo Causes School Lock-Down As Search Continues

By Anne Sewell
Published on: 02:08 PST, Jul 9, 2016

Local schools are under lock-down after Flaviu the lynx escaped from Dartmoor Zoo three days ago. The 2-year-old Carpathian lynx dug his way out of his enclosure at the zoo by eating through a wooden board and then digging into the ground.

Reportedly zoo officials have tried using drones and thermal imaging, but still haven’t managed to track down the missing animal, who is reportedly a fairly new addition to the zoo.

Experts do say the public shouldn’t panic as the Carpathian lynx poses no risk to humans, and is about the size of a Labrador retriever dog, but warn them not to approach the cat.

According to a report by the Mirror Online, there has been a flurry of sightings in the area and Dartmoor Zoo staff managed to catch up with the lynx on Thursday night, using drones with thermal imaging technology.

However, a team of marksmen failed to shoot the cat with a tranquilizer dart, allowing him to escape the scene.

Saturday morning saw the lynx evading capture yet again, as traps laid down to capture him were disturbed overnight, but rather than getting lured in by the food dangling inside, the clever cat managed to grab the food and run away without being captured.

While the lynx wasn’t captured, Benjamin Mee, owner of the Dartmoor Zoo, described the news as being “very positive.” Mee came to fame in a Hollywood movie We Bought a Zoo, starring Matt Damon.

Mee said that “This is never going to be the kind of situation where he suddenly returns, but two of the humane traps we set have been significantly disturbed overnight.”

“He’s seen his usual food dangling there in front of him, dragged it to the corner to pull bits off it and dragged the trap along the ground.

“He’s eating, but it’s not much so he’ll need to feed now.”

Now the Dartmoor Zoo staff are busy building a larger trap to encourage the lynx to enter, settle and feed properly.

According to Mee, the farmland in the surroundings to the zoo is a largely undisturbed area and there are only so many places the lynx can go.

“This is a long and patient game, but we are still in it.”

ITV quotes Mee as saying that someone had phoned them in tears, thinking they had run over the lynx on the A38 motorway close by, but they reassured the caller, saying this was unlikely.

Mee did add that there was a positive sighting very close by and they hope to soon track the lynx down. He said it is important the lynx is captured, as he is captive bred and doesn’t know how to hunt.

“He just gets food from people and he knows there are people here who will feed him,” Mee added.

Meanwhile zoo staff and volunteers, along with police trackers, a helicopter and drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras are still in use to try and track down the wily and clever cat.

Reportedly the Dartmoor Zoo has changed its opening hours on Saturday while they search for the lynx and a “quiet zone” has been cordoned off where the public cannot enter, presumably prepared for Flaviu’s return.

A statement on the zoo’s official website reads “From all at Dartmoor Zoo, we thank you for your continued support and hope to see you soon.”

[Image via Dartmoor Zoo/Facebook]

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