Vancouver Zoo: Missing wolf found safe after pack escaped

Grey wolves, known by their scientific name Canis lupus, pictured at the Minnesota Zoo in 2022

A wolf missing from a zoo near Vancouver has been found safe and returned to its pack.

One-year-old Tempest, a grey wolf, was found on Friday morning after a three-day search and rescue mission.

Police and zoo staff believe a pack of nine wolves was set free from the Greater Vancouver Zoo by a vandal earlier this week.

One wolf has since been found dead. The remaining wolves were recovered, with Tempest being the last to be located.

Zoo staff said they believe the grey wolves escaped after someone deliberately cut the fence surrounding their enclosure overnight.

Police are now investigating what is believed to be a case of unlawful entry and vandalism.

There were nine wolves and six pups housed at the zoo - located 34 miles outside Vancouver.

A three-year-old wolf named Chia - the second oldest female of the pack - was found dead on the side of the road nearby the zoo on Thursday morning.

The zoo's deputy manager, Menita Prasad, told reporters on Thursday that staff are "heartbroken" over Chia's death.

At the time, Tempest was still missing, and Ms Prasad appealed to the public to help find her.

By Friday morning, Tempest was found near the zoo. Ms Prasad said in a statement that staff are "extremely happy and relieved" the wolf has been found.

Wildlife experts say wolves tend to be wary of humans, but some lose their fear of people if they are continuously exposed to them.

If a wolf is spotted, people are encouraged to stay calm, slowly back away and maintain eye contact. Nearby dogs should also be kept on a leash.

Ms Prasad called the apparent deliberate release of the pack a "senseless act".

"We watched these wolves grow up. We consider the animals at the zoo a part of our family", she said.

The zoo closed its doors to the public since the wolves escaped on Tuesday. It is set to reopen on Saturday.

"The public will now be able to see Tempest re-united with her family." Ms Prasad said.