Gretchen the cheetah escapes primary enclosure at Nebraska zoo

OMAHA, Neb. — A cheetah decided to view more of the zoo as she took a stroll out of her habitat at a Nebraska facility on Tuesday.

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According to staff members at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Gretchen, a 5-year-old, 60-pound female cheetah got outside of its primary enclosure at the zoo’s Scott African Grassland at about 3:40 p.m. CST, WOWT-TV reported.

The big cat was still behind a public barrier when she wandered outside of her primary area, and zoo officials said none of the zoo’s patrons were in danger, according to the television station.

Patrons were were taken to secure locations, the zoo wrote in a social media post.

“Zoo staff had sight of the cheetah during the entire incident and at one point, the cheetah laid down,” zoo officials wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. “The cheetah responded to the animal care team and was walked back into its night quarters without incident or intervention.”

Zoo officials are now working to determine how Gretchen was able to leave her habitat, KLKN-TV reported.

“The health and safety of our staff, guests and animals is of the utmost priority to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. No person or animal was ever in danger during this incident,” Luis Padilla, president and CEO for the zoo, said in a statement. “This is why we prepare with emergency drills so that our staff can act quickly, confidently and safely.”