A hybrid wolf has been stolen from a Long Island animal preserve and authorities are investigating the callous theft, cops said Monday.
Suffolk County police say an employee from the Town of Brookhaven Wildlife and Ecology Center Animal Preserve called 911 at about7:20 a.m. Monday to report the missing female wolf, named Nakita.
The crook or cooks cut the fence surrounding the Holtsville preserve on Buckley Road and entered the facility sometime between 4 p.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. Monday, authorities said.
The 7-year-old animal, which is part Mackenzie wolf and part German shepherd and part husky, had previously been kept illegally as a pet by a family from Ronkonkoma before it was turned in last August to the animal preserve, according to officials.
A spokeswoman for the preserve said the wolf is not dangerous.
“She has not exhibited aggressive tendencies toward people during her time at the ecology site,” spokeswoman Kristen D’Andrea told The Post.
However, officials have asked for the public “not to approach her, if seen.”
“We are extremely concerned for Nakita’s welfare; we have more than 100 animals at the Animal Preserve and she was clearly targeted,” Town of Brookhaven Superintendent of Highways Daniel Losquadro said in a statement.
Last week, the preserve posted a photo of Nakita in a chain-link fence enclosure enjoying a meal with the caption: “Nakita is keeping cool in the heat with a chicken broth ice treat YUM!”
The preserve where Nakita was housed has more than 100 injured or “non-releasable” wild animals and farm animals available for viewing.
The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest of the thief or thieves responsible for taking Nakita, the organization said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the SCPD Fifth Squad detectives at 631-854-8552 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.