Escaped Warthog Recaptured After Interrupting Holiday Lights Show
Incident Date:
12/06/2024
Location:
Jacksonville, FL - USA
Facility Name:
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Facility Type:
Accredited AZA Facility (AZA)
Incident Category:
Escape of animal (EA)
Species:
Other
Animal:
Warthog
Animal disposition:
Recaptured
Summary:
Jacksonville, FL – An incident involving an escaped warthog named Mateo at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens prompted an evacuation during a holiday lights event Friday evening. A spokesperson for the zoo said the warthog escaped his enclosure during the zoo’s Colors of the Wild event. Customers at the zoo were forced to shelter in place temporarily before eventually being evacuated. The spokesperson told First Coast News that the warthog never left an animals-only area of the complex, but visitors were sent home as a precaution. After the escape, Mateo was safely recaptured without incident.
Action take by Born Free USA:
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