A warthog's escape forced the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to close early on Friday night, disrupting the Colors of the Wild holiday event. The tusked animal, which stayed in an area restricted to animals, caused enough of a commotion to halt the festivities.
As reported by News4JAX, the zoo posted on Facebook that the early closure was a safety measure to "ensure the safety of all guests and animals." Visitors were temporarily sheltered in place before being evacuated.
While a zoo spokesperson assured First Coast News that the warthog never entered public areas, its unexpected escape still startled both staff and guests.
Guests were escorted out by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, which helped manage traffic. Meanwhile, the zoo's animal care team worked into the night to capture the escaped warthog, leaving uncertainty about the zoo's status for the following day.
The zoo apologized for the disruption. According to Action News Jax, it was unclear if the event would be rescheduled.
