Breaking: Wolf In Colchester / Essex

[ChillDoubt]

Anyone in that area? Stay indoors! Just breaking on BBC website, Police looking for a wolf that has escaped from Colchester Zoo.

[Peter Pedant]

kids running thro COlchester streets, crying..... 'wolf'

[ChillDoubt]

Many of the officers were distraught that they had to shoot such magnificent animals.
They despatched as many vets with dart guns as they could but unless the animal remained still for a prolonged period of time, it was impossible.
As one vet said, shooting them behind a fence is easy as pie. Doing so when they're roaming freely is an entirely different proposition.

[pixie373]

According to the link, it takes 15mins for an anaesthetic to take effect- and may not work at all on a stressed animal. Very sad though. Five escaped and three are now dead :-(

[douglas9401]

Maybe if somebody had been there to give advice. I mean, what do animal experts know about dealing with animals anyway.
it strikes me that, even in these days of instant opinions on everything by everyone, those on the spot with the knowledge and expertise might JUST know better.

[Prudie]

Yes they might just know better at how to stop some claim against them. Wolves used to live wild in Britain, they didn't devour everything in sight. As captive reared animals it was highly unlikely that they'd have attacked anybody in the 15 minutes or so sedation would take effect. I had personal experience of a tiger being loose in Kent years back. Because of the attitude of the owner/keepers and lack of police involvement the cat was recaptured fairly easily. In fact it came up 'purring' to his keeper in the woods. Still, best shoot them eh.