Escaped wolves prompted the unexpected closure of the Greater Vancouver Zoo Tuesday.
According to a statement from the zoo, the details around the way the wolves got out are “suspicious, and believed to be due to malicious intent.”
The zoo said most of the wolves are back in their care but a “small number” of wolves remain on the loose.
Langley RCMP is investigating a hole in the fence and what appears to be unlawful entry and vandalism.
The facility called the Conservation Officer Service Tuesday morning after the animals escaped.
If members of the public identify the wolves, they are encouraged to keep their distance and to report the animal immediately to the Report all Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277.
According to the zoo, they have nine wolves and six cubs in their care.
Footage from the Global News helicopter shows RCMP cars at the zoo and a few people could be seen walking around. A few of the animals were also out in their pens.
Global News has reached out to RCMP for more information.
In a tweet, the Vancouver Humane Society, which has spoken out against the zoo in the past, said the closure was due to an “animal incident.”
A 2019 report commissioned by the Vancouver Humane Society by wildlife protection charity Zoocheck, alleged that many animals at the zoo were “living in barren, undersized cages and enclosures that restrict them from engaging in natural behaviours.”
The zoo maintains that the welfare of its animals is its top priority and that enrichment and conservation remain the institution’s guiding principles.
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