Mexican authorities are frantically searching for a massive tiger after it escaped from a zoo in the northern border city of Reynosa.

The missing feline broke out of its cage at the Quinta La Fauna zoo on Wednesday around 8:30am, Mexico‘s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection said.

Staff at the zoo alerted local, state and federal authorities and posted messages on social medial to warn the public and ask for their assistance in locating the wild cat.

Tigers are housed at the Quinta La Fauna zoo the Mexican northern border town of Reynosa, where a tiger escaped from its cage Wednesday morning. Authorities in Mexico have warned their counterparts in Hidalgo, Texas

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection said that it had received reports from residents who had spotted the tiger and provided locations, but it remains on the loose.

‘It should be noted that there are areas of dense vegetation in the surrounding area, which makes it difficult to capture the tiger,’ the agency said.

A tiger rests at the Quinta La Fauna zoo in the northern Mexico border town of Reynosa

Aaron De La Cruz, who oversees the agency’s regional office in Reynosa, told local news outlets that the tiger took off running after it was noticed by witnesses.

Right now the animal has not had any intention of attacking anyone, but it is still a large animal that is scared,’ he said.

De La Cruz added that the zoo normally works with the agency to take in animals that need special care and that this was the first time that any had fled the site.

‘We are taking all necessary precautions to capture the tiger without endangering the population,’ he said.

The Quinta La Fauna zoo remained closed to visitors as of Friday.