Leopard escapes enclosure, forces South Carolina zoo evacuation

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Visitors at the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina were evacuated after a leopard escaped its enclosure Thursday.

Zoo officials said Irina, a 4-year-old leopard, got out of her habitat and was roaming somewhere inside the zoo. As a precaution, visitors were quickly ushered out while staff activated an emergency response plan.

Teams tracked Irina's location, safely tranquilized her and returned her to her enclosure.

No injuries were reported, and zoo officials said the leopard is safely back in her habitat. The incident remains under investigation.