Cheetah Escapes From Enclosure at Indianapolis Zoo

— -- The Indianapolis Zoo was on lockdown this morning after a cheetah escaped from its enclosure, the zoo said.

The cheetah went up behind a fence and to a landscape area between the barrier exhibit and guests, the zoo's Public Relations Senior Manager Judy Palermo said.

The zoo was placed on lockdown, Palermo said, and all guests were held in safe areas with the doors locked until the cheetah could be gotten back into its enclosure. All guests and staff were safe, said Palermo.

Responders found the cheetah lying down in the landscape area, where they were able to sedate it.

The cheetah then went back down to the exhibit and into holding on its own, Palermo said. All of the cheetahs were also safe, Palermo added.

The cheetah who escaped is a 4-year-old named Pounce.

"Pounce is new to the Indianapolis Zoo and came here from the San Diego Zoo with his brother, Zephyr," the zoo said.

It's unclear how the animal escaped from the enclosure and the incident remains under investigation.

The zoo said the cheetah exhibit will remain closed and the cheetahs will stay indoors "until the Zoo is certain the issues that led to this incident have been resolved."