POLICE AND ANIMAL experts are currently trying to locate and recapture a lone wolf that escaped from a zoo in Essex earlier today.

Essex police confirmed they were assisting staff from Colchester Zoo in the task about an hour ago.

At the same time, the animal was spotted and an area has been contained. It is understood  the wolf is sheltering in thick undergrowth.

Two of its companions were shot dead after escaping their enclosure earlier.

In a brief statement on Twitter, the zoo said: “Please note a full explanation/report will be given in due course after conclusion of the events please bear with us at this difficult time.”

In a separate statement to the BBC, a spokesperson added:

Colchester Zoo’s keepers have been devastated by the loss of two of their beloved timber wolves.

“Wolves are naturally timid and provided they are not cornered in any way do not provide a risk to the public,” she concluded.

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