Big cat kills five alpacas, two foxes and an emu at Audubon zoo in New Orleans

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Eight animals have died after a jaguar escaped from its habitat at the Audubon zoo in New Orleans and mauled them.



An alpaca and fox died on Sunday, the day after the male jaguar killed four alpacas, one emu and one fox, Nola.com reported. The jaguar was captured and returned to its night house after being sedated by a vet team.

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No people were hurt and the zoo reopened on Sunday.

The zoo acquired the alpacas in March from farms in Alabama and Mississippi. The alpaca that died on Sunday was the zoo’s last living alpaca.

One injured fox continues to be monitored.

It is not immediately clear how the animal escaped. Zoo officials say inspections found that the roof was “compromised,” and initial findings concluded keeper error was not a factor.