I get a lot of questions from readers via Facebook and Twitter about the goings on in and around Norristown, but the question I got today from one reader was about the strangest I've ever seen. The reader asked, "Can you say if Elmwood Zoo jaguar got out yesterday?"
Apparently the internet was abuzz yesterday and still into this morning about reports of jaguar making a break for it and prowling the streets of Norristown.
"It's not true," said zoo employee John Brown. He's not sure how the rumor got started, but Brown confirmed that the jaguar is safe in his cage and hasn't taken any field trips. Brown also confrimed that they've been slammed with calls from the public asking about it.
The dispatch office confirms that they've also been recieving a flood of calls asking about the escaped jungle cat. They told me what they've been telling everyone else: "There's no animal escape from the zoo."
If you don't believe us, stop by the zoo sometime today and visit him yourself. He's home, safe and sound.
I did ask the zoo employee if he had any idea how the rumor got started and he said he didn't. I imagine if a smaller, less dangerous animal had escaped, he might point to that instance as the source of the confusion. Also, police dispatch did say there was "no animal escape from the zoo." I'll admit, I'm still quite curious as to how this all got started, so I'll do some more investigating on Monday. If so much as a billy goat got out of his pen, I'll be sure to share it with my readers.