🔥 Trending Greenville Zoo Leopard Escape: What We Know So Far

On Thursday morning, July 23, 2026, a four-year-old female Amur leopard named Irina escaped from her exhibit at the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina ⁵⁶⁷.

Timeline of Events

• Morning, July 23, 2026: Irina, an Amur leopard, left her enclosure at the Greenville Zoo ⁶.
• Approximately 9:15 a.m. EDT: The Greenville Zoo announced the incident ¹⁰.
• Evacuation and Closure: As a precautionary measure, zoo staff and guests were evacuated to strategic locations ²³. Cleveland Park, where the zoo is located, was also temporarily closed ⁴⁹.
• Approximately 9:20 a.m. EDT: Greenville Zoo emergency response teams successfully tranquilized Irina ²³.
• Afternoon, July 23, 2026: The leopard was safely captured and returned to her exhibit ¹⁷.
• 9:43 a.m. EDT: Cleveland Park reopened to the public ⁴.

Aftermath and Current Status

Following the incident, officials confirmed that the leopard, along with the zoo's male leopard and two cubs, are safe inside their exhibit ¹. Zoo staff, first responders, and the public are also reported to be safe ⁴.

The Greenville Zoo remains closed while staff investigate how the leopard managed to escape ¹⁴. City officials have stated that the animal is secure ⁴.