TIMELINE

May 1

Farm worker Zhu Caisong sights an animal that appears to be a leopard on a hill near Longmenkan village in the Xihu district of Hangzhou and takes a photo of it. Next morning, Zhu sees the animal again while he is working and throws rocks at it.

Thursday

Police receive a report from local residents saying they have seen an animal that looks like a leopard in a mountainside forest. Journalists call Hangzhou Safari Park to check, but officials deny any leopards are missing from the venue.

Friday

An animal that appears to be a leopard is sighted near a community close to the safari park, but it is not known if it is the animal that was seen in Longmenkan village.

Saturday, 10am

The park announces a temporary shutdown due to a security issue. Journalists speak to an animal breeder at the park who says he has no knowledge of leopards escaping from the venue.

11 am

The park deletes a statement about the shutdown from its WeChat account. Before the temporary closure, teachers and students from a primary school were taking a spring outing to the park. They go to another such venue when the closure is announced.

1:40 pm

Authorities in Fuyang district, Hangzhou, report that three young leopards have escaped from the safari park, and one of them has been recaptured. An official in charge of the venue has been detained.

2:20 pm

Special police join the search for the leopards in a mountainside forest area.

2:50 pm:

Authorities investigate how the leopards escaped as the search team continues its work.

4:50 pm

The park issues a public apology for failing to inform the public promptly about the missing leopards, saying it feared such an announcement might incite panic.

5 pm

The authorities in Fuyang say a young leopard has been captured in a mountainside forest near the district's Yinhu community.

6 pm

A helicopter is deployed to search for the last missing leopard.

6:30 pm

A fresh search is launched. As darkness starts to fall, the hunt becomes increasingly difficult, with team members using flashlights.

6:40 pm

The Fuyang authorities release a short video of the young leopard captured earlier in the afternoon, showing the tranquilized animal waking. It is returned to the safari park in good health.

9:40 pm

More people join the search.

Sunday, 1 am

The team traces the whereabouts of the last missing leopard with the help of a drone.

2:30 am

Searchers fail to capture the leopard and withdraw at about 3 am, leaving the drone still humming above the forest.

Source: Qianjiang Evening News