Wolf escape at B.C. zoo suspected as 'malicious'

UPDATE:

LANGLEY, B.C. - Police say the wolf enclosure at the Greater Vancouver Zoo was damaged by someone who is suspected to have broken into the facility and allowed the animals to escape, as the facility remains shut for a second day.

There were nine adult grey wolves and six cubs at the zoo in Aldergrove, but it has not confirmed how many got loose or remain unaccounted for, as conservation workers and zoo staff continue to search for any of the animals.

The zoo first announced without explanation that it was closed Tuesday morning via its Instagram and Facebook accounts, and says today it remains shut.

When it announced the escape in a statement Tuesday afternoon, the zoo said it suspected "malicious intent," and that a "small number" of wolves were loose.

It said there was no danger to the public, and it was working with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service to "contain" the animals.

Cpl. Holly Largy says Langley RCMP are investigating what appears to be a case of unlawful entry and vandalism that involved damage to the wolves' enclosure.

"The RCMP is investigating the break and enter and the mischief to the zoo," Largy said in an interview Wednesday.

"I can just tell you that there was damage done to the enclosure to allow the wolves to exit. At this point there's there's no surveillance, so we don't have any information to indicate how they got in or suspect information."

The Environment Ministry, which said Tuesday that one wolf was on the loose but has not provided an update, says anyone who sees a wolf should keep their distance and report it by calling 1-877-952-7277.

EARLIER STORY:

LANGLEY, B.C. - The Greater Vancouver Zoo said Tuesday afternoon that a number of its wolves were on the loose after the animals were believed to have been released from their enclosure as a result of "malicious intent."

However, it said there was no danger to the public, and it was working with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service to "contain" the animals, while the Langley RCMP investigated what appeared to be a case of unlawful entry and vandalism.

"GVZoo staff continue to actively search for a small number of remaining wolves un-accounted for," the zoo said in a posting. It highlighted the posting with a Facebook message at 3.25 p.m.

Earlier, British Columbia's Environment Ministry had said that only one wolf was still missing at the zoo, located about 55 kilometres east of Vancouver in the community of Aldergrove.

It did not say how many had escaped at the facility, which says it has nine adult grey wolves and six cubs.

The zoo said on its website that a number of wolves were discovered outside their enclosure Tuesday morning, triggering what it said was an "ongoing investigation and is suspicious, and believed to be due to malicious intent."

It said most of the wolves were back in the care of its animal health and welfare team.

The zoo had announced that it was closed on Tuesday morning via its Instagram and Facebook accounts.

The Environment Ministry said anyone who sees a wolf should keep their distance and report it by calling 1-877-952-7277.