The Cimahi Police, West Java, have set a 1-kilometer radius for the search for a leopard that escaped from the Lembang Park and Zoo breeding enclosure in West Bandung Regency.
Lembang Police Chief AKP Dana Suhenda said the search was carried out together with the TNI and a joint team divided into three sectors, namely the west, east, and the area around the zoo.
"We urge the public to report immediately to the Cimahi Police's 110 call center or to the nearest police station if they find or see the animal," Dana said in Lembang on Thursday.
Dana said his team deployed K9 dogs to assist in the search. Snipers were also provided by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the West Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency.
He added that the search for the leopard would continue at night, considering that the animal is a nocturnal animal that is active at night.
"We have also deployed Bhabinkamtibmas officers to be deployed in residential areas around Lembang Zoo to ensure public safety at night," he said.
Furthermore, Dana said the last sign found was a footprint in the parking area, but it still needs to be confirmed whether it really came from the leopard.
"The last sign found was a footprint in the parking area, but this still needs to be confirmed," he said.
Head of the West Java BBKSDA, Agus Arianto, said that the temporary indication is that the animal is still in the zoo area.
