LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Zoo has been given the "all clear" after a brief evacuation on Friday due to a reported bomb threat.
Spokesperson Kyle Shepherd said the report came in around 8:45 a.m. According to Louisville Metro Police (LMPD), the report "appears to be a false call."
Zoo staff, walking club members and anyone else who was inside the Zoo were evacuated as a precaution, while LMPD's Sixth Division cleared the area. Nothing was found, police said.
Shepherd said police gave the "all clear" around 11 a.m., adding that the Zoo plans to reopen to the public at noon.
The incident caused at least one Kentucky school district to cancel field trips to the Louisville Zoo on Friday though.
On social media, Spencer County Schools said buses carrying students from Spencer County Elementary School and Spencer County Middle School were turned around due to the police activity. No students or buses were at the zoo when the bomb threat came in and no students were in danger, according to district officials.
Zoo officials said school groups that planned to attend the zoo on Friday have been contacted to reschedule their field trips for another day.
"Our top priority is the safety of our guests, staff and animals," Director Dan Maloney said. "We are relieved that the Zoo was cleared, and we were able to reopen. We're grateful to the LMPD, especially the sixth Division under Major Vance, for their speedy response and for always being such good friends of the Zoo."
LMPD an investigation into the threat remains ongoing.
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