An animal park in eastern China is drowning in criticism after the escape of three leopards, two of whom were captured in controversial conditions, while the third is still at large, three weeks after his escape. 

A leopard was actively sought on Monday in eastern China after three weeks of escaping with two other felines from an animal park, which was crumbling under criticism for having delayed raising the alert.

Residents of Hangzhou, a large city located some 160 km southwest of Shanghai, spotted the presence of a feline in the wild on Thursday.

Some then thought that the animal may have escaped from a nearby zoo.

Three young leopards escaped, one still on the run

But the Hangzhou animal park, which is home to many savannah animals, initially denied any connection. Before announcing Saturday a temporary closure for "security reasons". The news quickly went viral on social media. It was not until much later on Saturday that the zoo finally admitted that one of its residents had dressed up. And the animal park to apologize for not having given the alert earlier, in order not to "cause panic" and to avoid negative publicity as the May 1 holiday approaches.

Police said a leopard fled as early as April 19 when a zoo clean-up employee broke safety rules, which have not been specified.

Local authorities announced on Monday the arrest of five people, including the zoo manager, and the opening of an investigation.

According to Chinese media, a total of three young leopards fled the animal park.

Two could be captured, the third was still wanted on Monday with significant resources, especially air.

"What are we doing these young leopards to be bullied like this?"

The video of a young leopard struggling desperately at the time of its capture in the face of a pack of aggressive dogs has also caused an uproar on social networks.

Much like the footage of one of the captured leopards resting in an enclosure with an apparently missing hind leg.

"What did these young leopards do to be mistreated in this way […] because of very poor management" of the zoo, indignantly an Internet user on Weibo, equivalent to Twitter.

Animal parks in China are frequently criticized for the living conditions of animals but also for fatal incidents attributed to lax safety rules.