Bear Escapes Habitat to Swim in Seals' Pool

A black bear named Oscar has been recaptured after climbing out of his South Texas zoo exhibit and slipping into a pool meant for seals.

Officials at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville say security will be increased at the bear grotto after the young male briefly escaped Monday morning.

Nobody was hurt and the zoo was locked down, with visitors moved to protected areas.

Authorities believe Oscar, who was captured in 2012 in Starr County, dug his claws into some cracks in the concrete wall of the bear exhibit to get out. Staffers isolated Oscar in a process that took less than an hour. Zoo director Pat Burchfield says the bear had to be tranquilized.

Oscar, during the exhibit upgrade, will stay in an area where he spends nights.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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