EL PASO, Texas — UPDATE 10:10 a.m. Oct. 14: El Paso Zoo Director Steve Marshall said the zoo reopened Saturday morning after a five hour search resulted in no mountain lion being located.
"This animal has moved on. It's too noisy and too busy (in this area) to hang around," Marshall told the El Paso Times. "We've never had a large cat (mountain lion) get in the zoo."
Before the zoo opened Friday, Marshall said a night security guard head the mountain lion growling in an outdoor area of an elephant exhibit.
Marshall said it would have been easy for a lion to jump over the zoo's 8-foot perimeter fence.
“He shined his flashlight (at the lion), and it ran away from him. He went to the zoo office and called me,” Marshall said.
Original report: El Paso Zoo in El Paso, Texas, closed until further notice after a wild mountain lion wandered into the facility.
KFOX reported that, around 6 a.m. Friday, the mountain lion made its way into the zoo. Officials have confirmed it is not a zoo animal and they have been unable to find it so far.
An El Paso Zoo spokesperson told KFOX the zoo is on lock down and public safety is a top concern.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.